NORTHERN IRELAND

Departmental Marketing

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the cost was of  (a) internet and website design and hosting,  (b) print media design and  (c) broadcast media of each of his Department's public information campaigns since 1997.

Shaun Woodward: To provide the breakdown of costs incurred by the Northern Ireland Office on public information campaigns from April 1997 to March 2000 would incur disproportionate costs; however, the overall costs for these years are as follows:
	
		
			   £ 
			 1997-98 262,083.75 
			 1998-99 428,390.82 
			 1999-2000 Nil 
		
	
	The breakdown of costs from April 2000 to date is contained in the following table:
	
		
			   Internet and website design and hosting (£)  Print media design (£)  Broadcast media (£) 
			 2000-01 0.00 11,802.08 0.00 
			 2001-02 8,364.24 12,483.18 0.00 
			 2002-03 36,489.03 11,470.88 97,043.25 
			 2003-04 40,598.43 24,798.22 56,088.55 
			 2004-05 15,418.13 52,324.48 140,564.66 
			 2005-06 12,556.25 48,554.44 196,842.23 
			 2006-07 11,005.16 95,863.97 40,758.93 
			 2007-08 19,476.60 154,793.00 165,720.68 
			 2008-09 822.50 816.63 0.00 
			 
			 Total 144,730.34 412,906.88 697,018.30

Economic and Monetary Union

James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer to the right hon. Member for Horsham (Mr. Maude) of 9 July 2008,  Official Report, column 1646W, on economic and monetary union, what the type of information in the changeover plan that prohibits publication is; and if he will redact that information and place an edited version in the Library.

Shaun Woodward: The Northern Ireland Office is unable to provide details of the Euro Changeover Plan as it contains the names and addresses of the Euro Co-ordinators as well as details of registered companies and computer packages which are to be used.

Powers of Entry

James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which  (a) primary and  (b) secondary legislation sponsored by his Department has (i) amended and (ii) enhanced existing powers of entry since May 1997.

Shaun Woodward: Since May 1997, my Department has taken forward nine primary enactments and one statutory instrument which have either introduced new, or amended existing, powers of entry in Northern Ireland. The relevant legislation is shown in the following lists.
	 Primary legislation introduced since May 1997 amending existing entry powers or containing new entry powers
	Northern Ireland (Location of Victims' Remains) Act 1999;
	Justice (NI) Act 2004;
	Criminal Justice (NI) Order 2004;
	Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 2004;
	Northern Ireland (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006;
	Justice and Security (Northern Ireland) Act 2007;
	Police and Criminal Evidence (Amendment) (NI) Order 2007;
	Policing (Miscellaneous Provisions) (NI) Order 2007;
	Criminal Justice (NI) Order 2008.
	 Statutory instruments conferring one or more powers of entry coming into force since May 1997
	Police Act 1997 (Criminal Records) (Registration) Regulations (NI) 2007
	The answer covers Acts, Orders in Council and statutory instruments on reserved and excepted matters. Northern Ireland Statutory Rules and legislation in the transferred field taken forward prior to the establishment and during the suspension of the Assembly have not been covered on the grounds that to do so would involve disproportionate cost.

JUSTICE

Channel Islands

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what meetings he has held with government representatives of  (a) the Bailiwick of Guernsey,  (b) Alderney and  (c) Sark in the last 12 months.

Michael Wills: There have been no meetings between the Secretary of State and Government representatives of Guernsey and Alderney during the period specified. There has been one meeting between the Secretary of State and the Seigneur of Sark (8 January 2008).
	As the Minister responsible for the Crown Dependencies I have met with Government representatives of Guernsey on two occasions (22 November 2007 and 21 July 2008); and Government representatives of Sark on three occasions (8 and 24 January 2008 and 5 February 2008).

Governance of Britain

Eleanor Laing: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many  (a) Ministers,  (b) officials from his Department,  (c) representatives of local authorities,  (d) invited members of the public and  (e) non-invited members of the public attended the "Governance of Britain" event in Brighton on 17th July;
	(2)  how many  (a) Ministers,  (b) officials from his Department,  (c) representatives of local authorities,  (d) invited members of the public and  (e) non-invited members of the public attended the "Governance of Britain" event in London on 22nd July;
	(3)  how many  (a) Ministers from his Department,  (b) officials from his Department,  (c) representatives of local authorities,  (d) invited members of the public and  (e) other members of the public attended the "Governance of Britain" event in (i) Nottingham on 9th July 2008 and (ii) Newcastle on 14th July 2008;
	(4)  how many  (a) Ministers from his Department,  (b) officials from his Department,  (c) representatives of local authorities,  (d) invited members of the public and  (e) other members of the public attended the "Governance of Britain" event in Bristol on 30th June.

Michael Wills: The "Governance of Britain" 'townhall' events were designed to engage those who are already active in their local communities in the Government's constitutional renewal agenda with an aim of encouraging them to take the debate put to their community groups and organisations.
	All those who attended the event were invited to do so.
	A breakdown of information requested for each event is shown in the following table.
	
		
			   Brighton  London  Bristol  Nottingham  Newcastle 
			  (a) Michael Wills Michael Wills Michael Wills Michael Wills Michael Wills 
			  (b) 5 5 5 5 5 
			  (c) 2 2 11 10 7 
			  (d) 25 27 25 27 16

Governance of Britain

Eleanor Laing: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what the cost was of the "Governance of Britain" consultation event held in Brighton on 17th July;
	(2)  what the cost was of the "Governance of Britain" consultation event held in London on 22nd July;
	(3)  what the cost was of the "Governance of Britain" consultation event held in Newcastle on 14th July;
	(4)  what expenditure his Department incurred in holding the "Governance of Britain" consultation event in Nottingham on 9th July;
	(5)  what expenditure his Department incurred in holding the "Governance of Britain" consultation event in Bristol on 30th June.

Michael Wills: The total cost of the "Governance of Britain" events as requested are as follows:
	
		
			  Venue  Date  Cost of event (£) 
			 Brighton 17 July 593.83 
			 London 22 July 1,538.09 
			 Newcastle 14 July 686.50 
			 Nottingham 9 July 676.00 
			 Bristol 30 June 435.00 
			  Note: All costs were inclusive of value added tax.

Land: Measurement

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether the Land Registry plans to use hectares as a unit of measurement.

Michael Wills: Land Registry requires the use of metric measurements on any documents dated on or after 1 October 1995. Any imperial measurements in such documents must appear as supplementary indications only and will usually be placed in brackets, for example, 22.86 m (75 feet).
	Land Registry similarly only uses imperial units of measurement on the register and title plan as supplementary indications (in brackets) or where they are included in a verbatim extract from a deed dated prior to 1 October 1995.

Political Parties: Finance

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what plans the Electoral Commission has to respond to the proposals set out in the party finance and expenditure White Paper; and if he will make a statement.

Peter Viggers: I have been asked to reply.
	The Electoral Commission informs me that it has published a response to the White Paper, Party finance and expenditure in the United Kingdom, which is available on the Commission's website:
	www.electoralcommission.org.uk.
	The Commission will now consider carefully all aspects of the Political Parties and Elections Bill relevant to its work before setting out its views in more detail prior to the Bill's second reading in the House of Commons.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Stress

Greg Hands: To ask the Leader of the House what arrangements her Office has in place to assist officials to overcome the effects of stress experienced in the workplace.

Chris Bryant: The Office of the Leader of the House of Commons is committed to the well-being of its employees. It has an external employee counselling service, it regularly consults staff on reducing stress at work and it provides easy to use advice on the successful prevention, recognition and management of stress at work.
	I am delighted that no staff have taken leave for stress over the last four years.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Access to Work Programme

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions from which part of his Department's budget funding to raise the Access to Work budget will be drawn.

James Purnell: holding answer 10 September 2008
	On 21 July 2008, the Department published its Green Paper 'No one written off: reforming welfare to reward responsibility'. Despite a fourfold increase in funding over the last 10 years, we recognise the need to expand the service to provide more help to more people. We are doubling the budget on Access to Work. This will be a major expansion of the support we can offer to disabled people to help them get and sustain employment. We estimate that this will expand the programme's capacity to around 48,000 people by 2013-14. The extra funding being made available is in addition to what was agreed in the 2007 spending review settlement.

Child Benefit: Telephone Services

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of calls to the Child Benefit Helpline were  (a) answered by a representative,  (b) received an automated message,  (c) logged with the promise of a call-back and  (d) responded to in another manner in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 10 September 2008
	I have been asked to reply.
	The table below provides the details of the information requested where it is available. In answer to part  (b) all calls received by the Child Benefit Helpline receive an automated message of some kind. It is not possible to calculate the relative proportions of the different groups with the information available.
	
		
			  Child Benefit  2003 - 04  2004 - 05  2005 - 06  2006 - 07  2007 - 08 
			 (b) Calls received(1) n/a 5,041,079 3,687,025 4,026,335 4,806,978 
			 (a) Calls Handled(2) n/a 3,360,272 3,091,750 3,483,386 4,336,202 
			 (c) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 (d) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 (1) Calls received: where the caller selected an option from the call steering menu and was put in a queue to speak to an adviser. (2) Calls handled: where the caller spoke to an adviser.

EU Law

Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many officials in his Department are wholly or mainly tasked with the negotiation, implementation or the administration of EU legislation and consequent policies.

James Purnell: This Government are firmly committed to the importance of the EU in delivering on 21st century challenges. The EU is of central importance to the work of HM Government across all Departments. It is relevant to a wide range of policy areas, and to the work of approximately 380 officials in the Department for Work and Pensions.

Housing Benefits

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what spending was on housing benefit and related benefits in each of the last 20 years, broken down by  (a) type of tenancy and  (b) category of housing provision.

James Purnell: The available information is in the following tables.
	
		
			  Housing benefit expenditure by tenure and provision. Great Britain 
			  Nominal out - turn :  £ million 
			   Rent rebate  Rent allowance   
			   Local authority  Registered social landlords  Private rented sector  Total rent allowance  Minor housing benefits  Total housing benefit 
			 1987-88 2,506 n/a n/a 1,030 0 3,536 
			 1988-89 2,653 n/a n/a 1,071 34 3,757 
			 1989-90 2,867 n/a n/a 1,365 26 4,258 
			 1990-91 3,329 n/a n/a 1,767 11 5,106 
			 1991-92 3,945 n/a n/a 2,413 4 6,363 
			 1992-93 4,566 676 2,570 3,246 2 7,814 
			 1993-94 5,028 974 3,214 4,189 1 9,218 
			 1994-95 5,228 1,309 3,567 4,875 1 10,104 
			 1995-96 5,430 1,640 3,804 5,445 2 10,876 
			 1996-97 5,569 1,991 3,820 5,810 0 11,380 
			 1997-98 5,498 2,242 3,437 5,679 0 11,177 
			 1998-99 5,405 2,480 3,180 5,660 1 11,065 
			 1999-2000 5,345 2,753 2,966 5,719 0 11,064 
			 2000-01 5,258 3,053 2,851 5,904 0 11,162 
			 2001-02 5,282 3,482 2,824 6,306 0 11,589 
			 2002-03 5,405 4,199 3,032 7,231 0 12,637 
			 2003-04 5,027 4,291 3,023 7,314 0 12,342 
			 2004-05 5,200 4,603 3,354 7,957 0 13,158 
			 2005-06 5,263 4,950 3,716 8,666 0 13,928 
			 2006-07 5,368 5,328 4,144 9,472 0 14,840 
		
	
	
		
			  Housing benefit expenditure by tenure and provision. Great Britain 
			  Real terms 2008-09 prices: £ million 
			   Rent rebate  Rent allowance   
			   Local authority  Registered social landlords  Private rented sector  Total rent allowance  Minor housing benefits  Total housing benefit 
			 1987-88 5,128 n/a n/a 2,108 0 7,236 
			 1988-89 5,074 n/a n/a 2,048 65 7,187 
			 1989-90 5,117 n/a n/a 2,437 46 7,600 
			 1990-91 5,508 n/a n/a 2,924 18 8,450 
			 1991-92 6,154 n/a n/a 3,765 7 9,925 
			 1992-93 6,899 1,022 3,883 4,904 3 11,807 
			 1993-94 7,405 1,434 4,734 6,168 2 13,575 
			 1994-95 7,584 1,898 5,174 7,072 1 14,657 
			 1995-96 7,645 2,309 5,356 7,666 2 15,313 
			 1996-97 7,586 2,711 5,202 7,914 0 15,499 
			 1997-98 7,275 2,967 4,548 7,515 0 14,790 
			 1998-99 6,976 3,201 4,104 7,305 1 14,281 
			 1999-2000 6,762 3,483 3,753 7,236 0 13,997 
			 2000-01 6,559 3,808 3,556 7,364 0 13,923 
			 2001-02 6,435 4,242 3,440 7,682 0 14,117 
			 2002-03 6,385 4,960 3,581 8,541 0 14,926 
			 2003-04 5,771 4,926 3,470 8,396 0 14,167 
			 2004-05 5,809 5,142 3,747 8,889 0 14,698 
			 2005-06 5,757 5,415 4,065 9,480 0 15,237 
			 2006-07 5,709 5,666 4,407 10,073 0 15,782 
			  Notes: 1. Information sourced from local authority claims for housing revenue account subsidy and housing benefit subsidy. 2. Figures to 2005-06 are taken from the final audited subsidy claims submitted to the Department by each local authority. 3. Figures for 2006-07 are not yet audited, and represent provisional out-turn for the year. 4. Figures exclude Asylum Seekers from April 1999, since when the National Asylum Support Service has reimbursed DWP for benefits paid to asylum seekers. 5. From 2004-05 rent rebate expenditure responsibility transferred to DWP. 6. Separation of rent allowance into private rental sector and registered social landlord elements is an estimate derived from the quarterly administrative data on caseloads and average awards. This breakdown is only available from 1992-93. 7. Expenditure on minor housing benefits reflects transitional spending following the reform of housing benefit in 1988. It is not possible to identify the tenure of minor housing benefits so these are shown separately. 8. Figures are total amounts paid to beneficiaries, irrespective of the source of funding, and include benefit spending reimbursed by DWP, spending on rent rebates financed within local authorities' housing revenue accounts, and benefit spending financed from local authorities' general funds. 9. Figures reflect the latest benefit-by-benefit estimate of out-turn, and not the amounts voted by Parliament.  10. Figures for 1999-2000 onwards are on a resource accounting and budgeting basis. There may be differences between figures quoted in these tables and those quoted in Department for Work and Pensions accounts. 11. Figures for past years may have changed since previous publication due to changes in methodology and the incorporation of more up-to-date information. 12.Totals may not sum due to rounding. 13. Real terms have been calculated using Gross Domestic Product deflators updated after the 2008 Budget report on 12 March 2008.  Source: DWP expenditure tables

Olympic Games 2012

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many full-time equivalent members of staff of  (a) his Department and  (b) its associated public bodies are working on projects relating to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games; how many of them are working on (i) project management, (ii) legacy planning, (iii) project oversight and (iv) financial oversight; and what plans he has for future staffing levels.

James Purnell: The information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Work area  FTE 
			 Project Management 3.3 
			 Legacy Planning 1.4 
			 Project Oversight 0.8 
			 Financial Oversight 0 
			 Total 5.5 
		
	
	Our current work force plans extend to 2010. Over this period we anticipate recruiting one additional person to work across project oversight and legacy planning.

Pensioners: Personal Income

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average income for households where all occupants are of pensionable age is in  (a) England,  (b) Wakefield district and  (c) Hemsworth constituency.

James Purnell: The information that is available is shown in the following table. Information cannot be provided at a lower level than Government office region, averaged over three years. Figures are based on survey data and as such subject to a degree of sampling and non-sampling error. Figures are based on the average of three years' data as single year estimates do not provide a robust guide to year-on-year changes.
	
		
			  Average gross income of pensioner units where all members are state pension age or over, 2004-05 to 2006-07 
			   £ per week, (2006-07 prices) 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 293 
			 England 327 
			  Notes: 1. Gross income is income from all sources received by the pensioner unit including income from social security benefits, earnings from employment, any private pension, and tax credits. 2. Based on survey data and as such subject to a degree of sampling and non-sampling error. Figures are based on the average of three years' data as single year estimates do not provide a robust guide to year-on-year changes. Further information for single years at a national level are available in the publication 'Pensioners' Income Series 2006-07'. 3. Figures have been rounded to the nearest £. 4. Figures are based on the average incomes of pensioner units (couples or singles) where all members are state pension age or over.  Source: Pensioners' Income Series 2006-07

Pensions: Mining

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average income for households which include at least one person in receipt of a miner's pension is in  (a) England,  (b) Wakefield district and  (c) Hemsworth constituency.

James Purnell: The information is not available.

Pensions: Mining

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average pension payable to former miners is in  (a) England,  (b) Wakefield district and  (c) Hemsworth constituency.

James Purnell: The information is not available.

Social Security Benefits: Interviews

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what qualitative evaluation he has made of the customer experience of work-focussed interviews; and if he will make a statement.

James Purnell: holding answer 10 September 2008
	 The Department for Work and Pensions conducts a wide range of research to inform the strategic development and operational delivery of its policies. This includes formal evaluations of employment programmes and pilots, as well as more strategic research on work-related and service delivery issues. Other research considers, more broadly, customer satisfaction with various aspects of Jobcentre Plus provision.
	Work-focused Interviews are one of the main ways through which Jobcentre Plus services are made available to its customers. Large bodies of evaluation evidence exist on work-focused Interviews, including qualitative studies of customers' experiences, large scale quantitative surveys of clients' journeys through Jobcentre Plus services and case studies of the delivery of client based services.
	Comprehensive programmes of evaluation have taken place. All research reports are available in the House of Commons Library and are also available on the DWP website.
	A list of relevant recently published research has been placed in the Library.

WOMEN AND EQUALITY

Dorneywood

James Duddridge: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality pursuant to the answer to the right hon. Member for Horsham (Mr. Maude) of 19 June 2008,  Official Report, column 1187W, on Dorneywood: official hospitality, what use the Government Equalities Office has made of Dorneywood for official engagements since its establishment.

James Purnell: The Government Equalities Office was established on 12 October 2007. Since then, it has not made use of Dorneywood for official engagements.

ELECTORAL COMMISSION COMMITTEE

Political Parties: Finance

Norman Baker: To ask the honourable Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what procedures there are for regulated  (a) donees and  (b) donors to appeal against sanctions imposed on them by the Commission.

Peter Viggers: The Electoral Commission informs me that it has no power to impose unilaterally any sanction on regulated donees or donors. Where the Commission establishes that a regulated donee has accepted a donation from an impermissible source, it may apply for a forfeiture order through a magistrates' court.
	Cases of suspected criminal offences committed by donees and donors under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (PPERA) are referred by the Commission to the police, or in the case of Scotland, to the Procurator Fiscal, where the Commission believes there is sufficient evidence and it is in the public interest to do so. The appeal procedure in each case is through the judicial system.

Political Parties: Finance

Norman Baker: To ask the honourable Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what factors the Electoral Commission takes into account when deciding whether it is in the public interest to refer to the police a case of a regulated donee notifying it late of a political donation; and who in the Commission takes such decisions.

Peter Viggers: The Electoral Commission informs me that it takes a variety of factors into account when deciding whether it is in the public interest to refer such cases to the police. These include the nature and gravity of the offence, the motive, mitigating circumstances, the effect of a prosecution on the accused, the risk of further offences, the availability of a more appropriate civil or other remedy, the powers of the court, and the public concern. Decisions regarding such referrals are taken by the Electoral Commissioners.

Political Parties: Finance

Caroline Spelman: To ask the honourable Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, with reference to the Electoral Commission's consultation paper on Standardising Statements of Accounts for Parties and Accounting Units, what the evidential basis is for the need for standardisation; what advice the Commission has obtained on the matter from  (a) accountants and  (b) auditors in public practice and from their professional bodies; and what research has been undertaken or commissioned by the Commission on the matter.

Peter Viggers: The Electoral Commission informs me that evidence of the need for greater transparency in the accounts of registered parties and their accounting units has been set out in a number of reports, including the first report of Session 2006-07 of the then Constitutional Affairs Committee of the House of Commons (HC 163-1). Paragraph 39 of that report recommended that:
	"Despite the introduction of a duty to produce accounts under PPERA, a lack of common accounting practices makes it difficult to compile a comprehensive account of the income profiles of the political parties. The Government should ensure that the Electoral Commission produce more digestible, thorough and transparent figures of both the private and public sources of party income."
	The Commission launched its public consultation on the standardisation of statements of accounts in July 2008 and invited the major accountancy bodies to respond to the consultation. The Commission informs me that in April 2008 it engaged an experienced public sector auditor to assist with developing the consultation and an audit strategy, and that a contract for professional accountancy advice and support on producing a guidance manual and delivering a training package for party and accounting unit treasurers is likely to be finalised shortly. The Commission has not undertaken or commissioned other research on this subject.

Powers

John Bercow: To ask the honourable Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, whether the Electoral Commission has made representations to the Government on proposals for extending its investigative and punitive powers.

Peter Viggers: The Electoral Commission informs me that it made representations supporting more proportionate and flexible penalties and the ability to apply a range of sanctions in 2003, when it published its review, Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act: Recommendations for change, which it submitted to the Government.
	The Commission further informs me that in 2006 it called for wider sanctions during evidence provided to the eleventh enquiry of the Committee on Standards in Public Life.
	In July 2008, the Commission reiterated its support for a widened range of sanctions and investigatory powers in its response to the Government's White Paper Party finance and expenditure in the United Kingdom.
	In the Commission's most recent briefing paper responding to the Political Parties and Elections Bill, it again welcomed and reiterated its strong support for the provisions in the Bill to widen its sanctioning and investigation powers. Copies of this briefing paper have been placed in the House of Commons Library.

INNOVATION, UNIVERSITIES AND SKILLS

Adult Education: Finance

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills for what reasons his Department's funding for Adult Learning Support at Chelmsford college fell by 6.4 per cent. in 2008-09; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: holding answer 6 October 2008
	Overall investment in the post-16 further education sector has increased significantly—by 53 per cent. in real terms between 1997 and 2008. Chelmsford college's overall LSC funding has increased by 3.7 per cent. compared with the previous year.
	Following a consultation in January 2007 and subsequent work through LSC advisory groups, changes were made to the way additional learning support was calculated for 2008/09. These changes were introduced to ensure that the funding was better focused on need rather than purely on an historical basis.
	ALS now has a funding formula that has two levels, low cost and high cost. For learners aged 16-18, low cost claims—that is, those under £5,500—will be allocated using the learners' GCSE English and Maths points profile from the college's previous year's cohort.
	For learners over the age of 19, low level claims are based on the level of qualification being studied.
	To allow for transitional arrangements for ALS, and to minimise the impact on colleges' budgets, 60 per cent. of the low cost ALS has been distributed using the formula approach in 2008/09. The remaining 40 per cent. has been allocated on the basis of the historical proportion of the budget. The intention is to move to 75 per cent. (formula)/ 25 per cent. (allocation) in 2009/10.

Adult Education: Finance

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how much the Learning and Skills Council allocated to Adult Learning Support at  (a) higher education colleges in Essex and  (b) at Chelmsford college in (i) 2007-08 and (ii) 2008-09.

David Lammy: holding answer 6 October 2008
	Until the academic year 2007-08, Additional Learning Support (ALS) was allocated as a lump sum to Further Education (FE) Colleges based on historical spend. From 2008-09 ALS allocations have, for the first time, been differentiated by age group and have used a formula based approach to more accurately reflect need.
	The LSC has responsibility for the funding of post-16 further education and training (other than higher education). As a result, table 1 below shows the ALS allocated for FE colleges in the Essex area with information on Chelmsford college in the table that follows.
	
		
			  ALS Allocations FE colleges in Essex 
			  Essex ALS (FE)  Allocation  (£)  Difference (£)  Percentage difference 
			 2007-08 total 9,387,920 — — 
			 2008-09 total 8,932,072 (455,848) -4.8 
		
	
	
		
			  FE ALS allocations—Chelmsford college 
			  Chelmsford college  Allocation (£)  Difference (£)  Percentage difference 
			 2007-08 total 737,620 — — 
			 2008-09 total 690,948 (46,672) -6.3

Departmental Databases

James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what use  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies make of (i) MOSAIC data and (ii) ACORN data.

David Lammy: DIUS itself has not made any direct recent use of either MOSAIC or ACORN. The following is a summary of known examples of use and general extent of use in agencies and their contractors. There may be some use where MOSAIC or ACORN are used indirectly by external contractors which we have not been able to identify in collating the information for this reply.
	Some regional Learning and Skills Councils (LSC) use MOSAIC to a limited extent. Contractors working on behalf of LSC may recommend it for projects where the aim is to analyse the population in certain areas, or understand which particular groups are accessing/not accessing learning. For example the LSC South East project uses MOSAIC neighbourhood types to identify and map NEET (Not in Education Training or Employment) hotspots in the South East.
	The Student Loans Company hires a modelling tool from Experian which relies on some MOSAIC data and which predicts the likelihood to repay of student loans mortgage style accounts.
	ACORN is to be used for the LSC Free Childcare for Training and Learning for Work project (activity to be undertaken November/December 2008)—profiling the population of England against the target audience (struggling families) to help plan where door drop activity should take place. It is also used to target media activity for the Skills for Life campaign.
	Ufi (University for Industry) uses ACORN data in its marketing campaigns to promote learndirect learning.
	No other use of MOSAIC or ACORN has been reported by DIUS or any of its agencies.

Environment: Research

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what steps the Government have taken to encourage UK-based research on environment issues.

David Lammy: The Government provides funding to the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), which in turn funds independent environmental research in the United Kingdom. NERC's funding from DIUS's science and research budget, has risen from £259 million in 2003-04 to £392 million in 2008-09. The increased sum includes support for the major new £1 billion programme living with environmental change, launched on 18 June, involving a wide range of partners, to which NERC and the other research councils are providing £363 million over the current spending review period.. The Department also funds the Higher Education Funding Council for England which provides quality related funding for research, including environmental research, in English Higher Education Institutes.

EU Law

Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many officials in his Department are wholly or mainly tasked with the negotiation, implementation or administration of EU legislation and consequent policies.

David Lammy: The Joint International Unit (JIU) supports both the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills and the Department for Children, Schools and Families by promoting and defending the interests of the two Departments; and overseeing the delivery of EU education training and youth programmes. A total of 10 JIU staff work on this EU business for the two Departments. In addition, there are 10 staff working wholly on EU business in the Government Office for Science and the Intellectual Property Office.

Higher Education: Finance

Colin Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills 
	(1)  what plans he has for the  (a) timetable,  (b) remit and  (c) methodology for the review of higher education funding planned for 2009;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the equitable outcomes of university schemes to distribute bursaries to students; and what consideration he has given to developing a single national bursary scheme to apply to all universities.

David Lammy: holding answer 6 October 2008
	Under the current arrangements, institutions are required to pay a minimum bursary to all students receiving the maximum grant. Beyond this, it is for institutions themselves, subject to approval from OFFA, to decide how to support their students. The latest figures show that acceptances to universities for England are at an all time high, with the proportion of applicants from lower socio-economic groups also up. A national bursary scheme would be very complex and costly to administer, and would lead to reduced support for students at a number of universities, damaging our fair access agenda.
	As we made clear during the passage of the legislation introducing the new fee and student support arrangements, there will be an independent review in 2009 which will work on the basis of evidence from the first three years' operation of the variable fee arrangements. The review will report to Parliament. The draft terms of reference were announced to Parliament in 2004 by the then Secretary of State. The final details about the arrangements for the review, its remit and methodology will be determined in due course. That will take place after the Government have conducted a wider debate among both higher education providers and users which will set the framework for the future of Higher Education over the next ten to fifteen years. The Secretary of State recently announced the next steps to that process in his speech to Universities UK at Cambridge.

Higher Education: Israel

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills 
	(1)  what discussions his Department has had with universities and colleges on their response to the boycott by the University and College Union of Israeli Academics;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the effects on the reputation and attractiveness of British universities to prospective students of a boycott of Israeli academics by the University and College Union.

David Lammy: The UK Government fully support academic freedom and are firmly against any academic boycotts of Israel or Israeli academics.
	Boycotts and any severing of links with Israel would be counterproductive, and completely at odds with the principles of open exchange that should underpin academic life. I profoundly believe ending such links would do nothing to promote the Middle East peace process. Both Israel and the occupied territories contain progressives and reactionaries, and the problem with boycotts or moves to severe links is that they make the job of progressives much more difficult and entrench the position of the reactionaries.
	The UK Government have made their support of international academic links clear. Alongside the Israeli Government, we have actively supported the establishment of the Britain Israel Research and Academic Exchange partnership—BIRAX—which aims to strengthen academic links between the UK and Israel through the awarding of grants to support academic exchanges for research purposes. We are exploring options for supporting academics in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Science: Research

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how much the Government spent on scientific research in 2007-08.

David Lammy: The following table sets out the latest outturn (2005-06), the estimated outturn (2006-07) and the CSR plan (2007-08) for net Government expenditure on research and development in cash terms.
	
		
			  £ million 
			Outturn  2005-06  Estimated outturn  2006-07  CSR plan  2007-08 
			 Science budget OSI—DIUS 578 760 704 
			  BBSRC 322 357 375 
			  ESRC 125 146 162 
			  MRC 416 487 500 
			  NERC 373 375 399 
			  EPSRC 555 664 746 
			  PPARC 334 334 — 
			  CCLRC 84 103 — 
			  STFC — — 460 
			  AHRC 69 83 102 
			  Pensions/Other 15 17 27 
			 Total Science budget  2,871 3,327 3,476 
			  
			 Higher Education Funding Councils HEFC 1,928 2,059 2,188 
			 Total HE funding councils  1,928 2,059 2,188 
			  
			 Total Science and Engineering base  4,800 5,387 5,664 
			  
			 Civil departments DEFRA 288 300 324 
			  DCSF 100 87 62 
			  DCLG 27 24 24 
			  DfT 61 58 68 
			  DH (including NHS) 628 668 734 
			   NHS 583 621 687 
			  DWP (including DSS) 18 17 17 
			  HSC 22 20 19 
			  HO 73 59 49 
			  DCMS 23 21 23 
			  DFID 265 256 253 
			  
			  DTI (ex OST and Launch Investment) 300 261 266 
			  Net Launch Investment -158.3 -142.9 -131.2 
			  NI departments 21 22 22 
			  SE (formerly SO) 209 228 247 
			  
			  WAG (formerly WO) 33 34 36 
			  FSA 17 14 14 
			  Other departments 38 39 42 
			 Total Civil departments  1,965 1,966 2,069 
			 Total Civil  6,765 7,353 7,733 
			  
			 MoD 
			 of which: Research 598 600 640 
			  Development 1,921 2,068 2,061 
			 Total Defence  2,519 2,668 2,701 
			  
			 Total  9,284 10,020 10,434 
			  
			 Indicative UK contribution to the EU R and D budget  365 377 354 
			  
			 Grand total  9,649 10,397 10,788 
			 Grand total (ex NHS)  9,066 9,777 10,101 
			  Source: ONS Government R and D Survey

Students: Disabled

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many and what proportion of students classified as having a  (a) hearing and  (b) vision impairment (i) applied to and (ii) were admitted into university in each of the last 10 years.

David Lammy: The latest available information from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) is shown in the tables. Comparable figures for 2008 entry will be available in February 2009.
	
		
			  Table 1: UK domiciled applicants to full-time undergraduate courses by disability, 1998 to 2007 years of entry 
			  Year of entry  Blind/partially sighted( 1)  Deaf/partial hearing( 1) 
			   Number  Percentage of total applicants  Number  Percentage of total applicants 
			 1998 401 0.1 726 0.2 
			 1999 401 0.1 728 0.2 
			 2000 456 0.1 793 0.2 
			 2001 598 0.1 868 0.2 
			 2002 602 0.1 875 0.2 
			 2003 641 0.2 900 0.2 
			 2004 604 0.2 897 0.2 
			 2005 707 0.2 1,078 0.2 
			 2006 779 0.2 1,211 0.3 
			 2007 711 0.2 1,210 0.3 
			 (1) Applicants who are blind/partially sighted or deaf/partial hearing may be counted in the category of 2+ disabilities, therefore such applicants are excluded from the above figures.  Source: Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: UK domiciled accepted applicants to full-time undergraduate courses by disability, 1998 to 2007 years of entry 
			  Year of entry  Blind/partially sighted( 1)  Deaf/partial hearing( 1) 
			   Number  Percentage of total applicants  Number  Percentage of total applicants 
			 1998 293 0.1 544 0.2 
			 1999 312 0.1 559 0.2 
			 2000 370 0.1 621 0.2 
			 2001 467 0.1 696 0.2 
			 2002 501 0.2 709 0.2 
			 2003 507 0.2 715 0.2 
			 2004 470 0.1 722 0.2 
			 2005 558 0.2 854 0.2 
			 2006 589 0.2 927 0.3 
			 2007 539 0.1 930 0.3 
			 (1) Accepted applicants who are blind/partially sighted or deaf/partial hearing may be counted in the category of 2+ disabilities, therefore such accepted applicants are excluded from the above figures.  Source: Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).

Students: Finance

Colin Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how much HEFCE allocated  (a) nationally and  (b) to (i) Leeds University, (ii) Leeds Metropolitan University and (iii) Trinity and All Saints College for student bursary schemes for the academic year 2007-08; and how much of this funding was unspent at the latest date for which figures are available.

David Lammy: holding answer 6 October 2008
	 HEFCE does not allocate funding for student bursary schemes. Instead, each higher education provider which wishes to charge variable tuition fees for regulated courses has to agree an access agreement with the Office of Fair Access (OFFA) under which it commits to recycle some of the extra income from variable fees to support some of its students. Information on the 2007/08 academic year will become available in the spring. The following table sets out the position for 2006/07—the first year of the new arrangements.
	
		
			  £ 
			   Amount budgeted for bursary schemes  Amount spent 
			 Leeds University 2,500,000 1,500,000 
			 Leeds Metropolitan University n/a 42,000 
			 Trinity and All Saints College 115,000 83,000 
			 England 115,000,000 96,000,000 
			 n/a = Not applicable  Notes: 1. Many HEIs overestimated the number of students who were eligible for bursaries in the first year of the new arrangements. Where "underspends" have occurred some HEIs have chosen to redeploy the resources towards additional outreach activities designed to attract students from non-traditional backgrounds. 2. Leeds Metropolitan University does not charge fees at a level which requires bursaries to be recycled within the terms of their approved access agreement.  Source: 2006/07 returns to OFFA

Students: Loans

Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what his most recent estimate is of how much revenue will be raised from selling parts of the student loan book as a result of the Sale of Student Loans Act 2008.

David Lammy: The Sale of Student Loans Act 2008 enables an indefinite programme of sales of income-contingent repayment student loans. For each sale to proceed, it will have to be assessed as yielding good value for money. No estimate has been made of how much revenue will be raised in the long term. Any update to the original estimates of proceeds over the comprehensive spending review period will be set out in the pre-Budget report.

PRIME MINISTER

Departmental Alcoholic Drinks

David Simpson: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  what measures are in place in his Office to monitor expenditure on alcohol for hospitality purposes;
	(2)  what purchasing process is used by his Office for the procurement of alcohol for hospitality purposes.

Gordon Brown: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the then Parliamentary Secretary to the Cabinet Office, my hon. Friend the Member for Corby (Phil Hope) on 1 September 2008,  Official Report, column 1433W.

Departmental Industrial Health and Safety

Philip Davies: To ask the Prime Minister how many incidents have been reported by his Office under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 since 27 June 2007.

Gordon Brown: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Cabinet Office my hon. Friend the Member for Cardiff, West (Kevin Brennan) earlier.

Departmental Public Participation

Mark Hoban: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  what  (a) listening exercises and  (b) public forums his Office has held in each of the last two years; what the (i) purpose and (ii) cost was in each case; and who the private contractor was and how much it was paid in each case;
	(2)  what  (a) reviews and  (b) public consultations have been initiated by his Office since 27 June 2007.

Gordon Brown: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Cabinet Office my hon. Friend the Member for Cardiff, West (Kevin Brennan) earlier.

Departmental Sick Leave

David Simpson: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  how many and what percentage of staff in his Office have had more than two periods of sickness absence of less than five days in each of the last three years;
	(2)  how many staff in 10 Downing street have had five or more periods of sickness absence of less than five days in two or more of the last five years.

Gordon Brown: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Cabinet Office my hon. Friend the Member for West Bromwich, East (Mr. Watson) earlier.

BUSINESS, ENTERPRISE AND REGULATORY REFORM

Information

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform whether he plans to implement the recommendations of the Power of Information report produced by the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit.

Tom Watson: I have been asked to reply.
	The Power of Information report was written by Tom Steinberg (MySociety) and Ed Mayo (National Consumer Council). It was published on 7 June 2007.
	The Government accepted the recommendations of the Power of Information Review in the Official Response, published on 25 June 2007. The response can be found online at:
	http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/~/media/assets/www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/publications/reports/power_information/power_information_response%20pdf.ashx
	An interim progress report was published in March this year at:
	http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/reports/power_of_information.aspx
	Copies of both documents have been placed in the Library.

TRANSPORT

Roads: Repairs and Maintenance

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what notional price per barrel of oil is used by her Department when determining whether new road schemes represent value for money.

Paul Clark: holding answer 6 October 2008
	Oil price assumptions are provided by BERR (Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform) and the Department for Transport has released guidance that uses the latest (May 2008) BERR central oil price figures to produce fuel price forecasts used in highway scheme appraisal.
	Central oil prices are projected to fall back from today's level to $65 in 2010 (2007 prices) before gradually rising again to $75 (2007 prices) in 2030. These correspond to nominal prices of $71 (in 2010) to $140 (in 2030).

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

Data Protection: Manpower

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many civil servants in  (a) the Cabinet Office and  (b) its agency work exclusively on data protection issues, broken down by grade.

Kevin Brennan: Staff in a number of units within the Cabinet Office, including Civil Contingencies Secretariat, Security Policy Division, Transformational Government, Historical Records and Openness Unit as well as Financial and Estates Management, are involved in work related to data protection issues.
	It is estimated that in excess of 20 full-time equivalent civil servants are directly engaged on work to protect information held by the Cabinet Office or on policy for the protection of information for Government.

Departmental Air Travel

James Duddridge: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether those staff of  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies who are entitled to business class or first class air travel are permitted to (i) travel in a cheaper class to the destination and (ii) benefit in monetary terms or kind from the saving.

Kevin Brennan: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the right hon. Member for Horsham (Mr. Maude) on 14 July 2008,  Official Report, column 153W.

Departmental Appeals

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on how many occasions the Cabinet Office has instructed the Treasury Solicitor to seek leave to appeal to the House of Lords from  (a) the Court of Appeal and  (b) the House of Lords itself in each of the last 10 years; and on how many occasions the application was rejected.

Kevin Brennan: The Cabinet Office seeks advice from the Treasury Solicitor's Department on legal matters throughout the year. However, the information requested is not held centrally and can be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.

Departmental Buildings

James Duddridge: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the location is of each office occupied by  (a) the Cabinet Office and  (b) the Central Office of Information which has been (i) newly occupied and (ii) refurbished in the last 24 months; and what the floor area in square metres is of each.

Kevin Brennan: Neither the Cabinet Office nor the Central Office of Information has newly occupied any offices over the last 24 months.

Departmental Buildings

Eric Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster with reference to page 106 of the Cabinet Office Annual Report and Accounts 2007-08, if he will provide a breakdown of the fixed asset expenditure incurred in relation to the  (a) £4.7 million on 10 to 12 Downing Street,  (b) £2.0 million on 70 Whitehall,  (c) £1.2 million on Admiralty Arch and  (d) £0.5 million on minor spend, furniture and fittings.

Kevin Brennan: A breakdown of the fixed asset figures provided on page 106 of the Cabinet Office annual report and accounts 2007-08 into specified work packages can only be provided at a disproportionate cost.

Departmental Computers

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what estimate he has made of  (a) the number of computer devices left on overnight in his Department when not in use and  (b) the cost per year of leaving computer devices on overnight when not in use in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Tom Watson: As part of the Department's continuing sustainable development programme, we use software tools on the corporate IT network to remotely switch off overnight all desk top computers that are logged off but are not switched off. All staff are instructed to switch off their computers and monitors when not in use; this software supports this instruction. Statistics are not collated on those computers left switched-on.

Departmental Health and Safety

Philip Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many incidents have been reported by his Department under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 since 27 June 2007.

Kevin Brennan: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the right hon. Member for Horsham (Mr. Maude) on 13 March 2008,  Official Report, column 593W.

Departmental Mobile Telephones

Philip Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many mobile telephones have been  (a) purchased,  (b) repaired and  (c) replaced by the Prime Minister's Office since 27 June 2007.

Kevin Brennan: In the calendar year since 27 June 2007, the Cabinet Office, which includes the Prime Minister's Office, has purchased 237 mobile phones, had five repaired and replaced 41.

Departmental Official Residences

James Duddridge: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what permanent residential accommodation is provided for use by civil servants in his Department; how many residential dwellings are provided; where they are located; and for what grade of civil servant they are provided.

Kevin Brennan: No Cabinet Office civil servants are provided with permanent residential accommodation at public expense.

Departmental Public Participation

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 
	(1)  what  ( a) listening exercises and  (b) public forums his Department has held in each of the last two years; what the (i) purpose and (ii) cost was in each case; and who the private contractor was and how much it was paid in each case;
	(2)  what  (a) reviews and  (b) public consultations have been initiated by his Department since 27 June 2007.

Kevin Brennan: The Cabinet Office held three events in March 2008 to identify the most effective way to deliver improved community safety in partnership with local people as part of the crime and communities review. The events were attended by over 600 people and comprised of open discussions and interactive audience participation. The events cost a total of £256,632, including VAT.
	Following a competitive tendering exercise, M Integrated Solutions was awarded the contract and was paid £250,758, including VAT. The Central Office of Information was paid £5,874 to cover the tendering and other administrative costs.

Departmental Sick Leave

David Simpson: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 
	(1)  how many and what percentage of staff in his Department have had more than two periods of sickness absence of less than five days in each of the last three years;
	(2)  how many staff in his Department have had five or more periods of sickness absence of less than five days in two or more of the last five years.

Tom Watson: The incidence of Cabinet Office reported periods of staff sickness absence and headcount vary during each year. The number of staff with periods of sickness absence of less than five days in each of the last three years are detailed in the following table and are expressed as percentages of the Department's average annual headcounts.
	
		
			   Five or more of less than five days  Percentage  Four of less than five days  Percentage  Three of less than five days  Percentage  Two of less than five days  Percentage 
			 2007 49 3.5 29 2.1 75 5.4 129 9.3 
			 2006 67 4.1 42 2.6 76 4.6 157 9.5 
			 2005 51 2.8 52 2.9 102 5.6 206 11.3

Departmental Surveillance

James Duddridge: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many applications  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies have made under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 to (i) undertake directed surveillance, (ii) use covert human intelligence sources, (iii) acquire communications data and (iv) undertake intrusive surveillance in the last 24 months.

Kevin Brennan: The Cabinet Office is not named under Schedule 1 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000. Therefore, it has made no applications under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000.

Departmental Television

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles) of 24 June 2008,  Official Report, column 238W, on departmental television, what premium satellite channels or packages are subscribed to by his Department for each of the three subscriptions.

James Duddridge: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, pursuant to the answer to the right hon. Member for Horsham (Mr. Maude) of 24 June 2008,  Official Report, column 238W, on departmental television, what the premium channels subscribed to are.

Kevin Brennan: The premium packages the Department subscribes to are Sky Mixes and Sky General.

Departmental Training

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much  (a) his Department and  (b) its agency spent on training courses for staff in the last (i) 12 months and (ii) five years.

Tom Watson: The Department has spent the following amounts on training, language courses, conferences and seminars in the last five years:
	
		
			  £ 
			   Expenditure 
			 2007-08 2,215,979 
			 2006-07 2,156,453 
			 2005-06 2,313,361 
			 2004-05 2,227,753 
			 2003-04 2,194,182

Government Departments: Public Participation

Anne Milton: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what recent guidance the Cabinet Office has issued on the manner in which public consultations should be conducted by Government Departments and their agencies; and whether an insistence on the use of designated response forms is compliant with that guidance.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 17 September 2008
	I have been asked to reply.
	The Government have recently revised their Code of Practice on Consultation. The new code, which will be supported by practical guidance, takes effect from November 2008. The current code and the new code set out good practice principles that Departments should adhere to when running formal, written consultation exercises and as such, they do not prescribe the approach that Departments should take with regard to submitting their responses.

Intelligence Services: Vetting

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to the answer of 25 June 2008,  Official Report, column 396W, on intelligence services: vetting, for what reason information on security vetting is not held centrally; what arrangements are in place for the collation and co-ordination of information received through security vetting; and if he will make a statement.

Kevin Brennan: Government Departments collect information and make decisions in respect of staff and contractors as part of the security vetting process. This information is classed as sensitive personal data and there is currently no requirement for such information to be held centrally. There is provision for Government Departments to share information on individual cases as necessary.

NHS: Finance

Peter Bone: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what figures were collated by the Office for National Statistics on the net cost of the national health service in  (a) the UK,  (b) England,  (c) Wales,  (d) Scotland and  (e) Northern Ireland in each of the last 11 years.

Tom Watson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, 7 October 2008:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your question on which figures are collated by the Office for National Statistics on the net cost of the National Health Service in  (a) the UK,  (b) England,  (c) Wales,  (d) Scotland and  (e) Northern Ireland in each of the last 11 years. (224075)
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) collates and publishes data on the expenditure by Government on health services overall, but does not collate statistics on the NHS alone. Examples of Government expenditure on health services outside the NHS are the expenditure on health by Ministry of Defence, and the education and training of NHS medical staff.
	Data on Government expenditure on health are sourced from HM Treasury at a UK level, and are not collated or published by country or region of the UK.
	In January 2007 the ONS published an article 'Public Service Productivity: Health Care'. This article contained a table showing general government final consumption expenditure on health from 1995 to 2006. The table is shown below.
	
		
			  Expenditure on general government health care— 1995 to 2006 United Kingdom 
			  £ billion 
			   1995  1996  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  Average annual change 1995-2006  (%) 
			 Labour 22.7 23.5 24.5 25.4 26.6 28.9 31.5 34.8 38.3 41.1 44.2 47.3 6.9 
			 Goods and services 15.4 17.2 17.1 19.0 22.6 23.2 25.3 26.6 29.7 33.9 36.6 40.5 9.2 
			 Capital consumption 1.3 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.5 1.7 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.9 3.5 
			 Total 39.4 42.0 43.0 45.9. 50.8 53.7 58.4 63.1 69.8 76.7 82.6 89.7 7.8 
			 Note: 1. These figures differ from those used in Blue Book 2007 (ONS 2007d), as they incorporate data revisions to the historical series. Also, by convention, Blue Book 2007 includes expenditure on capital items in GP surgeries within intermediate consumption. The estimates in this table include such expenditure in capital consumption.

Non-profit Making Associations: Lancashire

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what funding his Department has provided for social enterprises delivering public services in West Lancashire constituency in the last 12 months.

Kevin Brennan: The Office of the Third Sector has provided £215 million to the Futurebuilders programme to make grants and loans to third sector organisations, including social enterprises, delivering public services in England.
	In the last twelve months, Futurebuilders England has invested £10,627.00 in Bickerstaffe Children's Services to help build a childcare and family facility in rural West Lancashire.

Taxis

Philip Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much  (a) the Cabinet Office,  (b) its agency and  (c) the Prime Minister's Office spent on taxis in the last financial year for which figures are available.

Kevin Brennan: The Prime Minister's Office forms an integral part of the Cabinet Office.
	Due to the way that taxi costs are recorded on the Cabinet Office accounting system, it is not possible to extract the information requested without incurring disproportionate costs.
	All official travel in the Department is undertaken strictly in accordance with the rules contained in the Cabinet Office Management Code.

Voluntary Organisations: Finance

Joan Walley: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster to which third sector organisations his Department has awarded Improving Reach funding; and how much was awarded in each case.

Kevin Brennan: The Improving Reach grants are awarded by Capacitybuilders, a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Office of the Third Sector.
	Details of the organisations receiving Improving Reach grants during the current phase of the programme and how much each organisation receives are available through the following website.
	http://www.capacitybuilders.org.uk/Resources/a/j/x/Funding%20allocations.pdf
	A list of the third sector organisations which were funded through the pilot phase of the Improving Reach programme and how much each organisation received is available through the following website.
	http://www.capacitybuilders.org.uk/downloadfile.aspx?ID=112
	This information has been placed in the Libraries in the House.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of alcohol referral pilots; and how many people have  (a) been subject to referral and  (b) completed such referral in each of the pilot areas.

Vernon Coaker: The current alcohol arrest referral (AAR) pilots in Manchester, Liverpool, Ealing and Chester are subject to a vigorous evaluation process. This is being conducted by external evaluators from Liverpool John Moores University and Risk Solutions consultancy. Preliminary findings on re-offending data six months post-intervention and the throughput figures for offenders referred/receiving interventions will be received from the external evaluators in December 2008, with the final report due in July 2009.

Alcoholic Drinks: Young People

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many licensees in  (a) St Albans,  (b) Hertfordshire and  (c) England were prosecuted for selling alcohol to under-18 year olds in each of the last three years.

Vernon Coaker: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 10 June 2008,  Official Report, column 190W.
	Statistics for St. Albans cannot be provided as data are not collected to this level of detail by the Ministry of Justice.

Alcoholic Drinks: Young People

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions of people aged 10 to 17 years there were for being drunk and disorderly in  (a) the non-metropolitan county of Hampshire,  (b) the Test Valley borough and  (c) Southampton in each year since 1997.

Vernon Coaker: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 10 June 2008,  Official Report, column 188W.
	Statistics for Test Valley and Southampton cannot be provided as data are not collected to this level of detail by the Ministry of Justice.

Anti-social Behaviour Orders

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of anti-social behaviour orders.

Vernon Coaker: Three independent reports including the Home Affairs Select Committee report (2005), the Audit Commission report (May 2006) and the NAO report (December 2006) have confirmed our approach to tackling antisocial behaviour is working. Indeed the NAO reported that 65 per cent. of people stop committing antisocial behaviour after intervention one rising to 93 per cent. after intervention three. Peoples' fear of antisocial behaviour has fallen since ASBOs were introduced.

Antisocial Behaviour Orders: Enforcement

Doug Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department has taken in the last 12 months to monitor the work of local authorities in relation to their enforcement of anti-social behaviour orders.

Vernon Coaker: We collect data on the use of the tools and powers available to practitioners to tackle antisocial behaviour. Data on the number of antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) made and breached are provided by the courts to the Home Office. The most recent data were published on 8 May 2008. We also receive data on the use of other tools and powers, such as antisocial behaviour contracts, through the Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP) survey.
	We also keep in touch with frontline practitioners through policy development discussion groups, and through regular training events. This helps ensure that practitioners are fully up to speed with the latest practice in using the wide range of ASB tools and powers available to them. This close relationship also means that we can draw upon front line experience and expertise in developing policy.

Anti-social Behaviour Orders: Warley

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for anti-social behaviour orders have been made to Warley magistrates in each of the last three years; how many have been granted; how many of those granted have been breached; and what penalties were imposed for each breach.

Vernon Coaker: Information on the number of ASBOs issued and breached is not compiled below Criminal Justice System (CJS) area level. Data at CJS level are collected centrally on the number of antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) made and breached, but not those unsuccessfully applied for.

Burglary

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will establish a target for police forces to investigate all reported house burglaries.

Vernon Coaker: We have no plans to set a target for police forces to investigate all reported house burglaries.
	The Government are determined to ensure the police have the time and flexibility to respond to the concerns of local communities and have listened to the police service about the best way to achieve this. The Police Green Paper published in July—'From the Neighbourhood to the National, Policing Our Communities Together'—set out the Government's commitment to remove all targets that we set nationally for the police, and replace them with just one numerical top-down target for forces—on whether the public are confident that their force are tackling local problems. It is for local police forces, accountable to their police authorities, to determine their local priorities and the most appropriate way to tackle issues such as house burglary, including through the use of locally-set targets if appropriate.

Closed Circuit Television

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance her Department has issued to local authorities on the use of CCTV to monitor members of the public.

Vernon Coaker: No guidance has been issued to local authorities on the use of closed circuit television (CCTV).
	Use of CCTV by local authorities in public spaces must comply with the Data Protection Act 1998, which provides individuals with rights in respect of their information and sets rules about its collection and use.
	The Information Commissioner's Office is the independent authority which administers the Act, and has recently produced a revised edition of its CCTV code of practice. This provides guidance on how to deploy CCTV while respecting the rights of individuals. Because of the wider privacy concerns raised by CCTV, the code advises organisations to consider the impact on individual privacy beforehand, what benefits can be gained, and whether better solutions exist.
	The Home Office published the National CCTV Strategy last year, and a National CCTV Strategy Programme Board has been established. The programme board is reviewing the recommendations of the strategy and Ministers will have the opportunity to approve the work of the board later this year.

Credit Cards: Fraud

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offences of fraud relating to credit cards have been notified by banks and other financial institutions to the police in each police force area since April 2007.

Vernon Coaker: In 2007-08, there were 23,344 cases of fraud by false representation that involved a cheque, plastic card or online bank account recorded by police (this includes some instances of the similar offence of cheque and credit card fraud committed under old legislation in place before 15 January 2007).
	These offences could have either been referred direct by a financial institution, reported by an account holder or merchant who was not refunded monies by their financial institution or dealt with as a direct call for service to the police where a suspect was believed to be committing a crime at the time. These offences will in some instances relate to online fraud, but there is no specific category of recorded crime to separately identify these. In addition, we do not separately identify fraud offences relating to credit cards that have been notified to police by banks or financial institutions.
	Statistics giving the number of fraud offences relating to cheque, plastic card and online bank accounts recorded by each police force area since April 2007 are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Fraud by false representation: cheque, plastic card and online bank accounts recorded by each police force in England and Wales from 2007-08 
			  Force name  Number of fraud offences 
			 Avon and Somerset 547 
			 Bedfordshire 394 
			 British Transport Police 315 
			 Cambridgeshire 430 
			 Cheshire 276 
			 Cleveland 196 
			 Cumbria 14 
			 Derbyshire 361 
			 Devon and Cornwall 603 
			 Dorset 139 
			 Durham 187 
			 Dyfed-Powys 69 
			 Essex 592 
			 Gloucestershire 161 
			 Greater Manchester 316 
			 Gwent 107 
			 Hampshire 824 
			 Hertfordshire 448 
			 Humberside 284 
			 Kent 537 
			 Lancashire 317 
			 Leicestershire 512 
			 Lincolnshire 145 
			 London, City of 107 
			 Merseyside 308 
			 Metropolitan Police 7330 
			 Norfolk 184 
			 Northamptonshire 325 
			 Northumbria 18 
			 North Wales 104 
			 North Yorkshire 220 
			 Nottinghamshire 224 
			 South Wales 513 
			 South Yorkshire 373 
			 Staffordshire 368 
			 Suffolk 279 
			 Surrey 730 
			 Sussex 472 
			 Thames Valley 945 
			 Warwickshire 262 
			 West Mercia 423 
			 West Midlands 765 
			 West Yorkshire 911 
			 Wiltshire 709 
			 England and Wales 23,344

Crime

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crimes were reported in each police force area in each of the last 10 years; and what the detection rate in each police force area was in each such year.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 15 September 2008
	 The information requested is in the following tables.
	
		
			  Table 1: Offences recorded by the police and detection rates, 1998-99 to 2001-02 
			   1998-99  1999- 20 00( 1)  2000-01  2001-02 
			  Police force area  Number of offences  Detection rate (%)  Number of offences  Detection rate (%)  Number of offences  Detection rate (%)  Number of offences  Detection rate (%) 
			 Avon and Somerset 150,089 24 147,104 22 149,254 21 177,196 14 
			 Bedfordshire 49,076 33 53,607 25 49,627 27 52,210 25 
			 British Transport Police n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Cambridgeshire 67,256 29 68,722 25 64,343 24 69,559 22 
			 Cheshire 65,119 37 64,528 31 63,288 30 70,990 26 
			 Cleveland 67,030 23 65,185 22 64,357 21 72,003 20 
			 Cumbria 40,202 44 37,729 39 32,873 34 37,229 32 
			 Derbyshire 84,459 31 85,650 28 81,668 26 89,841 25 
			 Devon and Cornwall 110,644 36 110,361 35 102,853 34 101,425 32 
			 Dorset 52,755 31 52,332 26 50,320 25 54,869 27 
			 Durham 50,413 33 48,796 32 44,702 34 51,478 33 
			 Dyfed-Powys 24,588 69 23,709 65 22,878 63 23,969 64 
			 Essex 95,797 29 102,777 30 106,768 26 113,150 26 
			 Gloucestershire 48,206 31 50,993 31 49,871 32 50,467 30 
			 Greater Manchester 362,450 25 377,086 23 363,454 22 380,801 21 
			 Gwent 58,738 55 60,132 53 56,728 57 46,916 55 
			 Hampshire 128,253 35 135,174 32 133,553 29 135,961 29 
			 Hertfordshire 49,309 34 52,741 27 64,215 24 67,237 24 
			 Humberside 130,691 22 121,442 19 110,312 21 118,039 20 
			 Kent 129,340 34 124,918 33 128,382 28 120,155 28 
			 Lancashire 118,085 34 108,866 29 117,633 27 137,760 26 
			 Leicestershire 93,397 34 94,577 30 86,422 28 88,557 28 
			 Lincolnshire 46,670 40 46,170 28 44,884 25 49,792 27 
			 London, City of 7,144 33 7,775 32 8,255 27 10,093 34 
			 Merseyside 140,874 31 148,172 26 142,807 28 151,041 24 
			 Metropolitan Police 934,254 22 1,052,049 16 994,233 15 1,056,513 14 
			 Norfolk 57,129 37 59,387 30 57,259 26 58,923 25 
			 Northamptonshire 65,466 33 61,240 33 56,731 33 60,458 31 
			 Northumbria 151,298 30 142,279 31 134,777 31 139,130 31 
			 North Wales 43,848 43 44,606 36 47,712 31 53,839 28 
			 North Yorkshire 55,309 33 53,554 31 51,551 30 59,125 26 
			 Nottinghamshire 135,255 25 136,875 21 139,903 20 159,462 18 
			 South Wales 134,820 39 127,040 31 111,131 31 116,708 33 
			 South Yorkshire 133,059 32 131,700 25 125,179 25 134,764 23 
			 Staffordshire 91,919 32 98,852 22 104,705 23 117,027 20 
			 Suffolk 39,908 41 43,355 36 44,317 35 50,492 33 
			 Surrey 42,467 40 46,288 32 63,321 28 61,457 25 
			 Sussex 130,402 25 136,566 25 136,920 23 135,110 25 
			 Thames Valley 176,477 25 191,875 20 187,989 22 196,980 24 
			 Warwickshire 38,485 26 38,593 22 36,963 22 42,211 25 
			 West Mercia 81,782 34 84,797 29 78,363 28 102,257 28 
			 West Midlands 314,628 30 364,887 27 364,879 28 372,257 29 
			 West Yorkshire 273,809 27 260,237 25 258,908 23 298,845 19 
			 Wiltshire 38,189 38 38,461 33 36,555 29 38,728 30 
			  
			 England and Wales 5,109,089 29 5,301,187 25 5,170,843 24 5,525,024 22 
			 n/a = Not available (1) New instructions which clarified the rules for detecting crime were introduced on 1 April 1999.  Notes: 1. The data in this table are prior to the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard. These figures are not directly comparable with those for later years. 2. It should be noted that non-sanction detections that contribute to the overall detection rate have fallen in recent years reflecting a significant shift by many police forces away from recording detections of crime where no further action is taken. For this reason overall detection rates over time are not fully comparable. From 1 April 2007 the rules governing recording of non-sanction detections were revised to reduce the scope within which they can be claimed to a very limited set of circumstances. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Offences recorded by the police and detection rates, 2002-03 to 2007-08 
			   2002-03  2003-04  2004-05 
			  Police force area  Number of offences  Detection rate (%)  Number of offences  Detection rate (%)  Number of offences  Detection rate (%) 
			 Avon and Somerset 173,866 15 164,943 15 161,210 17 
			 Bedfordshire 60,895 26 62,382 23 57,973 28 
			 British Transport Police 77,264 15 79,182 16 77,889 17 
			 Cambridgeshire 85,029 22 79,960 23 73,659 23 
			 Cheshire 84,574 26 92,223 27 89,300 26 
			 Cleveland 73,816 23 74,579 21 68,967 24 
			 Cumbria 37,595 31 39,539 32 43,300 30 
			 Derbyshire 103,180 26 98,741 25 84,712 28 
			 Devon and Cornwall 131,240 29 131,453 29 133,282 30 
			 Dorset 62,297 25 62,657 26 57,722 28 
			 Durham 51,177 34 48,432 29 47,115 29 
			 Dyfed-Powys 25,104 68 31,105 47 32,409 43 
			 Essex 136,181 27 144,512 28 134,789 27 
			 Gloucestershire 55,775 29 58,097 28 53,333 27 
			 Greater Manchester 379,126 22 367,959 22 324,616 23 
			 Gwent 61,237 48 59,296 45 57,204 42 
			 Hampshire 152,664 30 178,543 27 173,072 28 
			 Hertfordshire 86,396 23 95,117 25 97,065 29 
			 Humberside 132,529 20 141,644 19 124,105 20 
			 Kent 130,597 28 137,313 25 136,440 23 
			 Lancashire 130,507 27 151,834 27 152,043 30 
			 Leicestershire 96,143 27 96,355 22 96,347 25 
			 Lincolnshire 61,949 23 60,377 22 58,349 25 
			 London, City of 10,026 36 9,250 33 8,685 36 
			 Merseyside 163,166 25 169,181 27 170,846 30 
			 Metropolitan Police 1,079,877 14 1,060,927 15 1,015,121 21 
			 Norfolk 71,270 24 69,846 26 66,376 28 
			 Northamptonshire 73,509 28 78,582 28 73,903 29 
			 Northumbria 165,496 31 157,051 30 142,122 29 
			 North Wales 65,067 29 61,749 33 53,849 42 
			 North Yorkshire 67,239 26 71,473 28 61,615 35 
			 Nottinghamshire 161,403 16 159,228 18 143,498 20 
			 South Wales 143,372 29 137,113 29 124,162 29 
			 South Yorkshire 152,057 21 141,794 24 140,371 26 
			 Staffordshire 108,626 31 109,396 33 101,084 35 
			 Suffolk 50,315 34 53,443 33 52,101 32 
			 Surrey 68,452 22 73,252 22 70,851 26 
			 Sussex 130,887 24 134,557 24 140,177 25 
			 Thames Valley 208,523 25 210,256 23 205,273 26 
			 Warwickshire 44,196 26 45,714 25 43,131 27 
			 West Mercia 105,077 33 106,900 31 95,056 34 
			 West Midlands 350,242 26 339,292 25 290,779 23 
			 West Yorkshire 322,794 20 325,556 20 263,534 25 
			 Wiltshire 44,225 28 42,956 28 40,076 29 
			
			 England and Wales 5,974,960 24 6,013,759 23 5,637,511 26 
		
	
	
		
			   2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			  Police force area  Number of offences  Detection rate (%)  Number of offences  Detection rate (%)  Number of offences  Detection rate (%) 
			 Avon and Somerset 154,876 23 160,834 24 144,970 25 
			 Bedfordshire 59,493 25 57,289 22 51,327 22 
			 British Transport Police 76,385 20 76,405 24 67,875 27 
			 Cambridgeshire 66,804 27 69,146 25 65,308 27 
			 Cheshire 95,297 27 89,023 27 79,278 26 
			 Cleveland 71,962 30 68,452 31 66,646 33 
			 Cumbria 42,722 35 38,640 36 35,282 38 
			 Derbyshire 81,085 27 81,037 26 77,534 29 
			 Devon and Cornwall 124,533 28 123,851 27 111,260 28 
			 Dorset 58,724 30 55,142 30 51,285 27 
			 Durham 53,123 27 53,173 30 47,839 29 
			 Dyfed-Powys 30,185 45 30,124 45 25,639 42 
			 Essex 132,378 31 127,163 33 119,164 32 
			 Gloucestershire 53,062 32 52,388 33 45,685 32 
			 Greater Manchester 328,237 25 332,554 25 297,966 25 
			 Gwent 53,627 36 53,182 33 48,472 30 
			 Hampshire 175,293 24 180,894 23 164,940 27 
			 Hertfordshire 95,273 26 91,408 29 80,239 30 
			 Humberside 116,104 23 112,771 25 97,034 31 
			 Kent 147,112 26 146,402 26 131,269 27 
			 Lancashire 142,229 32 135,837 35 123,681 35 
			 Leicestershire 91,185 30 93,108 28 88,253 27 
			 Lincolnshire 57,608 26 55,478 28 51,102 28 
			 London, City of 8,432 43 7,973 39 7,572 36 
			 Merseyside 174,989 28 155,208 29 126,934 32 
			 Metropolitan Police 984,125 24 921,779 21 862,032 25 
			 Norfolk 64,902 31 62,626 30 55,686 32 
			 Northamptonshire 68,075 25 65,975 26 63,657 25 
			 Northumbria 131,968 35 129,070 40 109,251 38 
			 North Wales 50,270 43 53,450 48 45,545 40 
			 North Yorkshire 58,850 35 54,526 33 50,265 33 
			 Nottinghamshire 138,289 22 136,531 23 124,880 23 
			 South Wales 123,942 26 121,717 25 123,967 26 
			 South Yorkshire 162,845 27 159,477 26 145,769 27 
			 Staffordshire 104,411 35 104,336 35 89,348 28 
			 Suffolk 52,831 30 51,096 31 48,330 30 
			 Surrey 68,978 25 74,242 30 68,947 27 
			 Sussex 135,690 30 133,147 31 119,393 32 
			 Thames Valley 201,412 28 211,325 25 196,008 25 
			 Warwickshire 43,392 25 45,257 27 39,968 26 
			 West Mercia 85,353 34 82,095 34 80,054 29 
			 West Midlands 288,055 26 278,660 27 248,235 27 
			 West Yorkshire 258,887 28 249,670 29 228,195 24 
			 Wiltshire 42,181 32 45,098 26 44,587 27 
			
			 England and Wales 5,555,174 27 5,427,559 27 4,950,671 28 
			  Notes: 1. The data in this table take account of the introduction of the National Crime Recording standard In April 2002. These figures are not directly comparable with those for earlier years. 2. It should be noted that non-sanction detections that contribute to the overall detection rate have fallen in recent years reflecting a significant shift by many police forces away from recording detections of crime where no further action is taken. For this reason overall detection rates over time are not fully comparable. From 1 April 2007 the rules governing recording of non-sanction detections were revised to reduce the scope within which they can be claimed to a very limited set of circumstances.

Crime Prevention

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps the Government are taking to prevent crimes involving  (a) internet fraud and  (b) identity theft; and if she will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: The Government maintain internet fraud prevention advice on a number of websites and also supports the GetSafeOnline website which is a joint Government and industry initiative which provides clear, accessible and up-to-date advice on the easy ways in which the public and small businesses can protect themselves and their PCs while using the internet.
	The Government have recently allocated £29 million in new money to implement the findings of the cross Whitehall review of fraud. A new National Fraud Reporting Centre which will enable the police to draw together comprehensive fraud intelligence will also work with law enforcement to tackle fraud facilitated through the internet.
	The Government are involved in a range of activity to help reduce identity theft and works with organisations in the public and private sector. We have sought to ensure better co-ordination in prosecuting fraudsters through establishing a network of Single Points of Contact in all police forces and a range of Government Departments and agencies dealing with identity fraud investigations and prosecutions.
	We have also strengthened legislation. Offences in the Identity Cards Act 2006 target those who possess and use false identity documents and genuine documents belonging to someone else. More powers to share data to combat fraud were enacted in the Serious Crime Act 2007 and the Disclosure of Death Registration Information Scheme, under the Police and Justice Act 2006, was launched on 16 January 2008.
	We have introduced systems to confirm the validity of UK passports presented to other organisations and interviews for first time passport applicants over 16 years old now take place to verify the identity of individuals.
	A leaflet and the
	www.identitytheft.org.uk
	website help to increase public awareness of the problem. The material advises on how to reduce the risk of becoming a victim of identity fraud, warning signs to look out for, and what someone should do if they do fall victim. Anyone who has had their personal details used fraudulently can contact one of the three credit reference agencies for help in resolving any credit related problems. They offer a free credit repair service and will liaise with each other, and the banks, to repair compromised personal credit records.
	Finally, our plans for a National Identity Scheme will provide people with a highly secure means of protecting their identity and help citizens to prove their identities easily, quickly and with vastly improved security.

Crime: Prisoners

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of offences recorded by the police in each of the last five years were crimes committed by prisoners whilst in custody.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 17 September 2008
	The information requested is not collected centrally.
	The Home Office collects 'recorded crime' data from the police in England and Wales. These data concentrate solely on the numbers of offences which are recorded and detected by the police.
	Within this data-set no details are collected on the offender.

Crime: Young People

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what proportion of children under the age of 16 who were victims of crime in each year since 1997 were from single-parent households.

Vernon Coaker: The information requested is not currently available.
	There are two primary sources of statistics on crime held by the Home Office. Police recorded crime is based on aggregate returns from police forces of the number of notifiable offences reported to and recorded by the police. Such returns do not contain information on the characteristics of victims or their families. The British crime survey is a sample survey of households in England and Wales and covers crimes experienced in the 12 months prior to interview. Currently, the survey is restricted to the experiences of adults aged 16 years and over. Following a recommendation of the independent Smith review of Home Office crime statistics, the survey is being extended to include those aged under 16 years from 2009.

Curfews: Young People

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will assess the implications for the safety of young people in curfew areas where they may not be present in public in groups of more than two people.

Vernon Coaker: There are no plans to assess the safety of individual children in areas that are subject to authorisations made under section 30 of the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 (dispersal orders).

Domestic Violence: Emergency Calls

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police forces use recordings of 999 calls when interrogating those accused of domestic violence offences.

Vernon Coaker: The Home Office does not hold information on the use of 999 recordings in police interviews with suspects in domestic violence cases.
	However, in April this year revised guidance on investigating domestic abuse was reissued to all police forces by the Association of Chief Police Officers and the National Policing Improvement Agency. The guidance sets out the principles of interviewing suspects in domestic violence cases and also gives direction on the use of relevant questioning to prove offences.

Driving Offences: Insurance

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment she has made of the extent of insurance fraud arising from intentional motor vehicle accidents.

Vernon Coaker: I have made no assessment of the extent of insurance fraud arising from intentional motor vehicle accidents.

Driving Offences: Mobile Phones

Mark Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was spent on enforcing the rules regarding driving while using a mobile telephone in each year since 1997.

Vernon Coaker: This information is not collected centrally. Use of resources is an operational matter for individual chief officers of police. It became a specific offence to use a hand-held mobile phone while driving in December 2003.

Driving Offences: Mobile Phones

Mark Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were arrested for driving whilst using a mobile telephone in each year since 1997.

Vernon Coaker: This information is not collected centrally. Information on court proceedings for the offence of using a hand-held mobile phone while driving and fixed penalties issued for the offence are contained in Motoring Offences and Breath Test Statistics, England and Wales, published annually, and in its supplementary tables. The information covers the period from December 2003, when this conduct became a specific offence.

Driving Offences: Mobile Phones

David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been prosecuted for using a mobile telephone whilst driving.

Vernon Coaker: The latest available information from the Court Proceedings Database held by the Ministry of Justice is for 2006 and is provided in the table. As the majority of 'use of hand held mobile phone while driving' offences are dealt with by the issue of a fixed penalty notice these are also included.
	2007 data should be available later this year.
	
		
			  Fixed penalty notices issued( 1)  and total court proceedings for the offence of use of hand held mobile phone while driving( 2)  by police force area, England and Wales 2006 
			  Number of offences 
			   Fixed penalty notices issued  Total court proceedings( 3)  Total dealt with 
			 England and Wales 164,910 2,682 167,592 
			 (1) Paid, i.e. no further action. (2) Offences under the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986, Regulations 110 (1), 110 (2) and 110(3). (3) Includes cases where fixed penalty notices were originally issued but not paid and subsequently referred to court.  Notes: 1. It is known that for some police force areas, the reporting of court proceedings in particular those relating to summary motoring offences, may be less than complete. 2. Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.

Homicide: Children

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children under the age of 10 were victims of homicide in each of the last 10 years.

Vernon Coaker: Available data relate to homicides recorded by police in England and Wales between 1997-98 and 2006-07, and are shown in the table. Data for 2007-08 are not yet available.
	Latest analysis of homicide statistics for England and Wales was published in 'Homicides, Firearm Offences and Intimate Violence 2006-07' (Home Office Statistical Bulletin 03/08) which can be found online at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs08/hosb0308.pdf
	The next homicide chapter is scheduled for release in January 2009.
	
		
			  Homicides currently recorded( 1)  where victim aged under 10 years: England and Wales, 1997-98 to 2006-07( 2) 
			  Year offence initially recorded( 3)  Number of homicides 
			 1997-98 61 
			 1998-99 70 
			 1999-2000 56 
			 2000-01 81 
			 2001-02 49 
			 2002-03 73 
			 2003-04 53 
			 2004-05 48 
			 2005-06 38 
			 2006-07 49 
			 (1) As at 12 November 2007; figures are revised as cases are dealt with by the police and by the courts, or as further information becomes available. (2) Data for 2007-08 are scheduled to be published in January 2009. (3) Offences are shown according to the year in which the police initially recorded the offence as homicide. This is not necessarily the year in which the incident took place or the year in which any court decision was made.

Offensive Weapons

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which programmes and organisations dealing with  (a) gun and  (b) knife crime her Department has funded in each of the last five years.

Vernon Coaker: The Home Office has provided funding for a range of organisations working on issues generally relating to violent crime, including CrimeStoppers and Crime Concern.
	In addition, through the Connected Fund, we have provided small grants to local community organisations working on tackling gun and knife crime. Lists of the organisations funded in the six rounds of the fund held to date can be found at:
	www.connected.gov.uk.
	The Home Office has also provided funding for Be Safe, which provides educational workshops on weapons; the Disarm Trust, which worked to support community groups working on gun crime; Urban Concepts' 'Don't Trigger Campaign', focusing on raising awareness of gun crime; Mothers Against Guns, which supports families of gun crime victims; From Boyhood to Manhood, an organisation working with young black men who are at risk of being involved with violent crime; and Street Pastors, which works on the streets on Friday and Saturday nights to listen to young people and provide support.

Offensive Weapons: Dyfed

Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many knife crimes were recorded in Dyfed-Powys in each of the last five years.

Vernon Coaker: It is not possible to identify those offences that are knife-related from the data centrally collected on overall recorded crime. However, since April 2007, police forces have been providing separate aggregate data on serious violence (attempted murder, GBH and robbery) involving knives and sharp instruments. Dyfed-Powys police recorded 74 such offences during 2007-08.
	Available data from the Homicide Index relate to offences currently recorded as homicide where the apparent method of killing was 'sharp instrument', as at 12 November 2007. The number of such offences recorded by Dyfed-Powys police each year between 2002-03 and 2006-07 are given in the following table. Figures for 2007-08 are scheduled to be published in January 2009.
	
		
			  Offences currently( 1)  recorded as homicide where apparent method of killing is sharp instrument( 2) : Dyfed-Powys police, 2002-03 to 2006-07( 3,4) 
			  Year offence initially recorded( 3)  Number 
			 2002-03 3 
			 2003-04 0 
			 2004-05 0 
			 2005-06 2 
			 2006-07 1 
			 (1) As at 12 November 2007; figures are subject to revision as cases are dealt with by the police and by the courts, or as further information becomes available. (2) Homicides involving any sharp instrument, including knives. (3) Offences are shown according to the year in which the police initially recorded the offence as homicide. This is not necessarily the year in which the incident took place or the year in which any court decision was made. (4) Data for 2007-08 are not yet published.

Offensive Weapons: Southampton

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people aged  (a) 16 and under,  (b) between 17 and 18,  (c) between 18 and 21 and  (d) 21 years were arrested for carrying (i) knives and (ii) firearms in the City of Southampton in each of the last five years.

Vernon Coaker: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Offensive Weapons: Young People

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what proportion of children under the age of 16 who were victims of gun or knife crime in each year since 1997 were from single-parent households.

Vernon Coaker: The information requested is not currently available.
	There are two primary sources of statistics on crime held by the Home Office. Police recorded crime is based on aggregate returns from police forces of the number of notifiable offences reported to and recorded by the police. Such returns do not contain information on the characteristics of victims or their families. The British Crime Survey is a sample survey of households in England and Wales and covers crimes experienced in the 12 months prior to interview. Currently the survey is restricted to the experiences of adults aged 16 years and over. Following a recommendation of the independent Smith review of Home Office crime statistics, the survey is being extended to include those aged under 16 years from 2009.

Powers of Entry

James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what  (a) primary and  (b) secondary legislation sponsored by her Department has (i) amended and (ii) enhanced existing powers of entry since May 1997.

Vernon Coaker: Since May 1997, Parliament has passed 73 primary enactments and 208 statutory instruments containing reference to a power of entry in England and Wales, sponsored by a range of Departments, introducing new or amending existing powers of entry. The relevant legislation is placed in the House Library.
	We are currently conducting a review of the powers of entry. The review is focused on establishing the continuing need for existing powers and determining the potential for a single statutory framework for all powers of entry. The review is also examining ways in which public understanding and awareness of entry powers can be raised.
	A public consultation paper will be published later this year on the proposed framework approach and raising public accessibility. Details can be found on:
	http://police.homeoffice.gov.uk/operational-policing/powers-pacecodes/powers-of-entry-review

Reoffenders

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of the number of those designated as persistent and prolific offenders are presently serving prison sentences.

Vernon Coaker: The most recent data available from the performance management arrangements for the Prolific and other Priority Offender programme cover the period from January to March 2008. Based on returns from 93 per cent. of all Prolific and other Priority Offender schemes in England and Wales, the data show that 38 per cent. of Prolific and other Priority Offenders were serving custodial sentences at that time.

Road Traffic Offences: Fixed Penalties

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 17 July 2008,  Official Report, column 608W, on road traffic offences: fixed penalties, if she will place in the Library a copy of the proposal from the Association of Chief Police Officers; and if she will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: The proposal was contained in a paper submitted to the Fixed Penalty Procedures Working Group, which is chaired by the Home Office and brings together representatives from across Government and the criminal justice system who have an interest in fixed penalties. It is set out below. We are currently considering the launch of a consultation on the proposal, as would be required before any change could be made.
	ACPO Proposal
	Seatbelts

Security: Licensed Premises

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether requirements are imposed on door staff of licensed premises to undertake continuing training after they have obtained a Security Industry Authority licence.

Vernon Coaker: The Security Industry Authority (SIA) has not to date specified competency requirements for second and subsequent licence applications after an individual has provided evidence of competency when applying for his or her first licence under the Private Security Industry Act 2001. However, the SIA anticipate proposing the introduction of a requirement for licence holders, including door supervisors, to provide evidence that they have kept their competency up to date when applying for licence renewal. Such a proposal would require an assessment of the costs and benefits involved.

Smuggling: Tobacco

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department is taking to constrain illicit trade in tobacco; and what plans she has to review these measures.

Stephen Timms: I have been asked to reply.
	Since the publication of the tackling tobacco smuggling strategy in 2000, over 15 billion illicit cigarettes and over 1,000 tonnes of hand rolling tobacco (HRT) have been seized. Many organised criminal gangs have been broken up and thousands of individuals have been successfully prosecuted. As a result of the success of the strategy, the size of the illicit market for cigarettes was reduced over the five years to 2005-06 from 21 per cent. to 13 per cent.
	At Budget 2008, the Government announced that the new UK Border Agency, which has assumed responsibility for Customs detection work at the border, would be developing a strategy for enhancing detection of tobacco products.

Speed Limits: Cameras

David Tredinnick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what proportion of bi-directional road safety and speed cameras in the Metropolitan Police district are coloured yellow on both sides.

Vernon Coaker: This information is not collected centrally. Issues relating to the deployment of safety cameras in the Metropolitan Police district are operational matters for the Commissioner.

Speed Limits: Cameras

David Tredinnick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Metropolitan Police plans to colour yellow the front of the bi-directional safety camera on the southbound carriageway of the A3 at Beverley Bridge by Robin Hood Gate, Richmond Park.

Vernon Coaker: This is an operational matter for the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis.

Young People: Greater London

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much  (a) universal and  (b) targeted funding her Department has provided to youth groups in London in each of the last five years.

Vernon Coaker: The Home Office has invested funds in a wide variety of universal and targeted services to develop positive activities to improve outcomes for young people, as well as targeted youth crime and antisocial behaviour prevention activities for young people most at risk.
	The Home Office has provided funding in the last three years to 21 London-based Positive Futures projects. The total Home Office funding provided to this collection of projects was £2.5 million for 2006-07/08 and an additional £1,274,680 in this financial year.
	Disaggregated information on funding specifically to London-based Positive Futures projects in 2005-06 and 2004-05 is not available.
	In addition, in May 2004, the Home Office launched the Connected Fund, which has to date held six funding rounds of small grants for local community organisations working to tackle gun and knife crime. Details of the projects funded can be found on the website:
	www.connected.gov.uk
	Total funding under this funding stream to date is £1.75 million and approximately half of which went to London based organisations.
	Also across Government the Department for Children Schools and Families fund a wide range of universal and targeted youth groups.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Africa: EU Strategic Partnership

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 19 June 2008,  Official Report, columns 1165-6W, on Africa: EU Strategic Partnership, what criteria his Department is using to monitor progress under the strategy against the Millennium Development Goals.

Douglas Alexander: The Africa EU Joint Strategic Partnership and action plan were agreed by EU and AU member states at the Lisbon summit in December 2007. The action plan consists of eight Partnerships which contain 22 priority actions with agreed activities under each. On the European side, EU member states have taken a lead on the different partnerships. This role will include monitoring implementation of the agreed priority actions, in consultation with African partners.
	The EU Africa MDG Partnership includes four priority actions, with a set of agreed activities listed under each. The UK Government are currently mapping ongoing and planned work on these activities and identifying gaps, in consultation with European and African partners. Once this mapping is completed, the principal criteria for assessing progress will be (a) delivery of planned or ongoing activities; (b) action to address gaps; and (c) whether a wide range of stakeholders, such as civil society organisations, are able to contribute their views and ideas.

Africa: Females

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 19 June 2008,  Official Report, columns 1167-8W, on Africa: females, what programmes his Department is supporting which promote the rights and political participation of women in Africa in 2008-09.

Douglas Alexander: The Department for International Development (DFID) is supporting a number of innovative and successful programmes in African countries that address women's rights and political participation.
	DFID supports Kenya's Political Empowerment Programme which provided support to women candidates contesting parliamentary and civic seats in the December national elections. There are now more women in both parliament and local councils: the number of elected women in Parliament increased from nine in the last Parliament to 15 currently in 2008.
	In Nigeria we are working with other donors and Nigerian civil society organisations, and DFID funded programmes have provided detailed analysis on the impact of the African Protocol on the Rights of Women and the adoption of the convention to eliminate discrimination against women (CEDAW). This will facilitate Nigerian civil society organisations to develop advocacy strategies aimed at passing legislation that better protects women's rights. In Sierra Leone DFID has committed long-term funding (2006-10) to support Women's Access to Justice. This programme has supported the introduction of Circuit Courts to reach remote areas, improving women's access to justice.
	Further Information is available on the DFID website using the links provided in the answer of 19 June 2008,  Official Report, columns 1167-8W.

Developing Countries: Borders

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 19 June 2008,  Official Report, columns 1176-7W, on developing countries: borders, what information his Department has received from USAID on the steps it is taking to strengthen the Trans Kalahari and Maputo development corridors in 2008-09.

Douglas Alexander: The Department for International Development (DFID) receives monthly updates from the USAID Trade Hub based in Gaborone, Botswana.
	USAID recently reported the endorsement given by Botswana's Ministry of Works and Transport for harmonising axle load limits for trucks moving along the Trans Kalahari Corridor. This measure should facilitate trade along the corridor.
	USAID is also supporting the work of the Maputo Corridor Logistics Initiative (MCLI) for improving transport logistics along the Maputo Development Corridor. Some of the recent progress reported by USAID on their work with the MCLI include:
	Co-funding the MCLI annual general meeting in May 2008.
	Co-funding the MCLI open day in October 2008.
	Providing technical assistance to the MCLI as well as other Maputo Corridor stakeholders (for example, in relation to Customs issues, one stop border post issues, transport costs, trade facilitation, etc).
	Producing a Study on Sustainable Funding of Corridor Management Institutions which has led to funding being pledged to the MCLI.
	Studies on Corridor Performance and Truck Stops to be produced in the next few months.
	Further information on the USAID Trade Hub can be accessed at:
	www.satradehub.org.

Developing Countries: Education

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much and what percentage of its budget his Department spent on education programmes in schools in 2007-08; and what assessment he has made of the performance of such programmes against their objectives.

Douglas Alexander: In 2007-08, the Department for International Development (DFID) spent some £351 million bilaterally on education which represented 12 per cent. of DFID's total bilateral programme. These figures include an allocated proportion of General Budget Support and funding to the Education for All fast track initiative. It does not include support to education through multilateral institutions and non-governmental organisations funded through DFID's Partnership Programme Agreements. The UK is committed to increasing its total spending on education globally to £1 billion by 2010.
	Global enrolment in primary education increased from 647 million in 1999 to 688 million in 2005 but latest estimates show that some 75 million primary aged children are still not enrolled in school, so a significant challenge remains. That is why, last year the Prime Minister and United Nations' Secretary General called for accelerated action to achieve the millennium development goals, including for education.

Ethiopia: Overseas Aid

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 19 June 2008,  Official Report, column 1178W, on Ethiopa: economic situation, what steps his Department is taking to help the Ethiopian government to promote human development in 2008-09.

Douglas Alexander: Despite the present economic and humanitarian situation, this year's national budget for Ethiopia (passed in July) commits the Ethiopian Government to further increases in the levels of social spending to promote the expansion of basic services and improve human development.
	Through a number of sector programmes, the Department for International Development supports this government priority through improving the availability and quality of health, education and water and sanitation services, particularly in poorly served rural areas in Ethiopia.
	During 2008-09, we will be spending approximately £38.5 million on education services, £20.5 million on health services, and £10.5 million on water services. These resources will make a significant contribution to increasing the numbers of schools and teachers, health clinics and health workers, water points and latrines in rural areas.

Ethiopia: Water

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what bodies received funding from the £75 million allocated to support the Ethiopian government water sanitation and hygiene programme.

Douglas Alexander: The Department for International Development's (DFID) water and sanitation programme in Ethiopia is administered through a World Bank trust fund. Project funds are channelled through the Government of Ethiopia's federal Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, and spent by local government at regional and district levels. These funds are spent directly to provide water and sanitation services at community level. In 2008, £9 million has so far been provided to build around 1,000 rural water schemes (such as protected springs and hand dug wells) and eight small town schemes (piped water systems), benefiting approximately 500,000 people. Overall, DFID's £75 million will pay for water and sanitation for 3.2 million people.

India: Education

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 18 June 2008,  Official Report, column 1040W, on India: overseas aid, what targets have been set for the universal elementary education programme in India.

Douglas Alexander: The Indian Government's flagship Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) programme, described in the answer of 18 June 2008, sets a number of targets for universal elementary education. These targets, for achievement by 2009-10, include reducing the number of out of school children aged six to 14 years from 13.4 million (2005-06) to 4.9 million; ensuring that girls' share of enrolments and Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe shares of enrolments are maintained or increased relative to their share in the population as a whole; increasing student attendance rates at the primary and upper primary levels from 70 per cent. and 75 per cent. respectively to 85 per cent. and 90 per cent.; increasing the retention rate at the primary level from 71 per cent. to 75 per cent.; increasing the transition rate from primary to upper primary levels from 83 per cent. to 89 per cent.; adequately and regularly monitoring learning levels of elementary education students; and improving learning levels of students in grade 3 in particular.

India: Overseas Aid

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 18 June 2008,  Official Report, columns 1039-40W, on India: overseas aid, what form the technical assistance provided by his Department to the Andhra Pradesh government took; and whether steps are being taken by his Department to support the provision of long-term education as part of the rural livelihoods programme.

Douglas Alexander: Pursuant to the response of 18 June 2008, the technical assistance provided by the Department for International Development (DFID) to the Government of Andhra Pradesh has taken the form of advisory inputs by national and international consultants on: livelihood enhancement, human resource management, water audits, gender, evaluation and impact assessment. Technical assistance was also used to recommend improvements in the ways government departments operate and train officials to discharge their duties more effectively.
	There was no formal education component in the Andhra Pradesh Rural Livelihoods project, although there was a strong emphasis on capacity building of community members, particularly women to develop new skills, in areas related to livelihoods and income generating activities. The project ended in December 2007.

Nepal: Health Services

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 18 June 2008,  Official Report, column 494W, on International Health Partnership, in what way the International Health Partnership gave momentum to the new policy on free health care in Nepal; and what resources his Department is providing to improve the overall quality of health care in Nepal in 2008-09.

Douglas Alexander: The International Health Partnership's (IHP) goal is to accelerate progress on the health related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) through improvements to health systems as well as more effective use of aid. The Government of Nepal (GoN) joined the IHP while the GoN's Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) were designing how to scale up the free health care policy: a policy designed to improve access by the poor to services. The IHP launch event provided the Minister of Health and Population with valuable global evidence to inform policy-making and expansion of delivery. The Department for International Development (DFID) has provided technical support to the policy both preceding the launch of the IHP and subsequently. DFID provided an additional £3 million for fiscal years 2007-08 and 2008-09 in recognition of the IHP and supporting the free health care policy.
	For 2008-09 DFID is providing £20.5 million to the health sector. This funds three programmes: the overall health programme (called the Nepal Health Sector Programme), Support to the Safe Motherhood programme and the HIV/AIDS programme. Most of the fund is provided as budget support to be managed by, and through, the government's system.

Overseas Aid

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his Department's timetable is for its implementation plan to take forward the OECD Development Assistance Committee Principles; and what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of fulfiling its commitments under the plan; and how much it will cost to fulfil the plan.

Douglas Alexander: The UK attaches great importance to the work of the OECD Development Assistance Committee in developing best practice guidance for donors whether in the form of principles, guidelines or policy statements. Where appropriate we will continue to work with others to ensure such guidance is associated with clear commitments and targets for its implementation.
	For example, the Paris principles (partner country ownership, alignment, harmonisation, managing for results and mutual accountability) provide an organising framework for the commitments set out in the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness. The international community agreed 12 targets to monitor the implementation of these commitments, and most recently reviewed progress in doing so at the Third High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness held in Accra on 2-4 September. The Accra Agenda for Action, which resulted from that meeting, represents an important further means to accelerate progress towards the Paris Declaration targets set for 2010.
	UK delivery of the Paris Declaration commitments and targets now forms part of the Department for International Development's (DFID) Departmental Strategic Objectives rather than of a separate action plan. There are therefore no costs associated with fulfilling a separate plan. Our progress in meeting our Paris Declaration commitments and targets is subject to DFID's normal management and reporting mechanisms.

Overseas Aid

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what programmes his Department has initiated to increase opportunities for individuals in the UK to assist developing countries in the last three years.

Michael Foster: The Department for International Development (DFID) has initiated two programmes to increase opportunities for individuals in the UK to assist developing countries in the last three years.
	In February 2008, DFID launched a youth volunteering programme, called Platform2. This aims both to increase awareness of development issues among young people in the UK (with a focus on less advantaged youth), and to enable young people to contribute meaningfully to community led overseas development projects. The programme aims to involve a minimum of 2,500 young people over three years. Since the launch, 170 UK volunteers have completed (or are currently participating) in the programme in Ghana, South Africa, Peru, India, Malawi and Nepal.
	In July 2008 DFID launched the Diaspora Volunteering scheme to fund volunteers from UK Diaspora communities to use their skills and experience to help development in poor countries. It aims to send at least 600 volunteers to developing countries over three years. The first volunteers have started working in India, Nepal and Cameroon.

Overseas Aid

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 19 June 2008,  Official Report, column 1182W, on overseas aid, to what other programmes funds not disbursed to partner governments were allocated.

Douglas Alexander: A final breakdown of Department for International Development (DFID) expenditure for 2007-08 was published on 2 October 2008 in the publication "Statistics on International Development 2007-08". This publication is available on the DFID website
	www.dfid.gov.uk.

Overseas Aid: Standards

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 20 June 2008,  Official Report, columns 1271-2W, on overseas aid: standards, how the transparency of donors' actions will be measured as part of the harmonisation principle.

Douglas Alexander: The OECD's Development Assistance Committee measures donors' commitments on harmonisation in the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness through achievement of three targets: 66 per cent. of aid flows through programme based approaches, 40 per cent. of missions to the field conducted jointly with other donors, and 66 per cent. of analytical work conducted jointly.
	At the Third High Level Forum (HLF3) on Aid Effectiveness held in Ghana from 2-4 September, the UK played a key role in getting international agreement to speed up implementation of the Paris Declaration. The Accra Agenda for Action commits donors to
	"publicly disclose regular, detailed and timely information on volume, allocation and, when available, results of development expenditure to enable more accurate budget, accounting and audit by developing countries".
	The implementation of this commitment will be monitored by the OECD-DAC and reviewed at the next High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness in 2011.
	Also at the HLF, 14 donors, including UNDP, World Bank, EC, Germany and the Netherlands, signed up to a new UK-led 'International Aid Transparency Initiative (IATI)'. This will enable donors to implement and go beyond the commitment made in the Accra Agenda for Action and ensure that information on aid flows is available to everyone. Donors will work together to agree before the end of 2009 an accessible common format for the publication of information about aid. The initiative will help citizens hold donors and governments to account for their promises and enable partner governments and their citizens—those who ultimately benefit from aid—to plan for and make the best use of aid.

Overseas Aid: Standards

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 20 June 2008,  Official Report, columns 1272-3W, on overseas aid: standards, what steps donors and partners are taking to achieve the priorities for improvement referred to in the answer in order to meet 2010 targets.

Douglas Alexander: At the Third High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness, held in Accra, Ghana from 2-4 September 2008, strong UK leadership helped to secure an ambitious 'Accra Agenda for Action' which will speed up implementation of the Paris Declaration.
	Donors and developing countries commitments include:
	A step change in donors' use of partner government systems to deliver aid, with a new target to channel 50 per cent. of government-to-government aid through country systems, thus improving alignment;
	Strengthening of national, and for the first time international, mutual accountability mechanisms, allowing donors and partner countries to better hold each other accountable for meeting their commitments, with a milestone agreed for 2009;
	Donors agreed to respect and support partner country-led efforts to agree a better division of labour between donors at country level—and for the first time at international level too; we agreed to start dialogue on international division of labour by June 2009. This will reduce transaction costs for partner countries and help address the issue of under-aided countries;
	For the first time and beginning now, donors will provide partner governments with forward expenditure or implementation plans for the following three to five years, allowing partner countries to integrate the information in their medium-term planning and macroeconomic frameworks. This will help developing countries plan to use aid to implement their own priorities, e.g. recruiting nurses and teachers; and
	Partner countries will improve their information systems, with support from donors to develop national statistical capacity. The UK announced £50 million support for a new multi-donor Statistics for Results Facility. Donors will use these systems to manage development results.
	These steps will help achieve the targets set for 2010.

Renewable Energy

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions he has had with the Carbon Trust; and how much expenditure has been set aside for the introduction and operation of renewable technologies in his Department's UK offices.

Douglas Alexander: The Department for International Development (DFID) has had various discussions with the Carbon Trust, and through them have commissioned building surveys of both our UK offices, at 1 Palace Street in London, and Abercrombie House in East Kilbride. While these surveys found that the buildings were inherently energy efficient, they also identified technologies which merited further investigation. Further work has been carried out through the Carbon Trust to assess the feasibility of these, such as a wind turbine and a Biomass boiler at Abercrombie House, and a Tri-generation plant at 1 Palace Street.
	Earlier this year DFID invested in voltage modulation equipment which has reduced the electricity consumption at 1 Palace Street by around 15 per cent.. The level of capital funding for the next 3½ years is still being considered.

Sierra Leone: Overseas Aid

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the administrative cost to his Department was for delivery of £30 million to the UN Peacebuilding Fund in Sierra Leone; what programmes have been funded through the fund; and what other steps his Department is taking to support the UN in Sierra Leone.

Douglas Alexander: No administrative support is provided by the Department for International Development (DFID) to the UN Peace building Fund (PBF) in Sierra Leone. DFID is a member of the PBF Steering Committee in Sierra Leone; its remit includes assessment and approval of proposals and oversight of implementation.
	The Peacebuilding Fund was set up in March 2007 with an envelope of $35 million. UNDP administers the fund from New York and provides the local secretariat. To date, seven projects have been formally approved for funding—full details of these can be viewed on UNDP's website:
	http://www.unpbf.org/sierraleone-projects.shtml
	DFID works closely with a number of UN agencies in Sierra Leone. This includes direct funding for project implementation—for example to UNICEF for a national Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programme, as well as contribution to basket funds—for example to a fund managed by UNDP to support the delivery of the 2007 national and 2008 local elections.

Southern Africa: Infrastructure

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 19 June 2008,  Official Report, columns 1177-8W, how the US$5 billion of private investment will be distributed.

Gareth Thomas: The more than US$ 5 billion private sector investment which has been mobilised in relation to the Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund (EAIF) is helping to improve telecommunications, energy, transport, industrial and other infrastructure in African countries such as Cameroon, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Nigeria and Uganda. A detailed breakdown of the US$ 5.5 billion private sector investments together with EAIF finance is given in the attached table (Annex 1).
	
		
			  Annex 1: EAIF Active and Completed projects as of June 2008 
			  ($ million) 
			  Project  EAIF  Year  Country  Sector  Comments  PSI Committed ($m) 
			 Celtel (MSI Expansion) 30.00 2003 Sub-Saharan Africa Telecoms Total US$190m syndicated loan fully disbursed. Now repaid on refinancing. 160.0 
			 MTN Nigeria 10.00 2003 Nigeria Telecoms US $5m drawn. Now repaid on refinancing 200.0 
			 AES-Sonel 35.50 2003 (EAIF $32.3m) 2006 (EAIF $2.3m) Cameroon Energy/Power EAIF loan disbursed - $32.3m in 2003, $2.3m in 2006. GPOBA approved eligibility commitment awaited 554.0 
			 Moma Mineral Sands 36.50 2003 ($24.5m) 2007 ($12m) Mozambique Mining Disbursing 477.0 
			 BidCo Palm Oil/KIS Renewables 22.00 2006 Uganda Agribusiness Approved Nov 2006. Loan not yet signed  
			 Tema Port Mooring Buoy 12.00 2005 Ghana Transport US$ 36m facility. US$ 9.4m Drawn 58.0 
			 Obajana Cement Plant 30.00 2005 Nigeria Industrial Disbursed as part of US$ 500m syndicated loan 829.0 
			 ElemePetrochem 20.00 2007 Nigeria Industrial EAIF loan disbursed Feb.2007 400.0 
			 Ethiopian Airlines 36.00 2006 Ethiopia Transport Approved by the Board. Awaiting disbursement 474.0 
			 CelTel Nigeria 35.00 2007 Nigeria Telecoms Disbursed Feb.2007 1,327.0 
			 Celtel Africa 24.00  Africa Regional Telecoms Commenced disbursing Sept 2007 590.0 
			 DRC (8.0)  DRC Telecoms   
			 Malawi (1.0)  Malawi Telecoms   
			 Madagascar (2.0)  Madagascar Telecoms   
			 Sierra Leone (9.0)  Sierra Leone Telecoms   
			 Uganda (4.0)  Uganda Telecoms   
			 Mnazi Bay Power (Mtwara Power) 17.50 2007 Tanzania Energy/Power Approved April 200. Not yet signed  
			 MagEnergy 12.00 2007 (TAF EAIF) DRC Energy/Power Loan Approved 48.7 
			 Seacom 35.00 2007 Africa Regional Telecoms Signed Dec.2007 385.0 
			 Safal Africa 29.00 2007 Africa Regional Industrial Signed March 2008 (not yet available) 
			 Bugoye Hydro Power Plant 35.00 2008 Uganda Energy/Power Loan Approved 55.7 
			 Total 419.50 5,558.40

Zambia: Education

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 20 June 2008,  Official Report, columns 1274-5W, on Zambia: education, how the £22.1 million that his Department contributed to the multi-donor education fund was distributed.

Douglas Alexander: The multi-donor education fund to which the UK Government contributed under the 2003-07 Ministry of Education Strategic Plan was distributed across three sub sectors: free basic education, high school education, teacher and tertiary education. As illustrated in the following table, the majority of donor pooled resources were allocated to basic education.
	
		
			  Percentage 
			   2005  2006  2007  2008 
			 Basic education 58 62 52 59 
			 High school 24 15 40 24 
			 Tertiary 11 13 3 12 
			 Administration and support 7 10 5 5 
			 Total 100 100 100 100 
		
	
	This support has resulted in the net enrolment ratio at primary school level increasing from 78 in 2002 to 97 in 2006; and from 9.4 in 2002 to 22.17 in 2006 for grades 10-12 as well as the number of orphans enrolled increasing three-fold from 12,967 in 2002 to 38,262 in 2005.

Zambia: Education

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 20 June 2008,  Official Report, columns 1274-5W, on Zambia: education, what programmes are planned to extend the provision of free education in Zambia between 2008 and 2011.

Douglas Alexander: The Zambian Fifth National Development Plan 2006-10 outlines the priorities to ensure equitable access to education in Zambia. This includes expansion of infrastructure including classrooms and teachers' houses; teacher education; and curriculum development. Specific discussions between government and development partners to extend free primary education from Grades 1-7 to Grades 8-12 are currently underway. In addition a key priority is to respond effectively to the increased demand for education services following the abolition of charges for Grades 1-7 and improve the quality of education delivered, including infrastructure and teaching staff.
	The Department for International Development (DFID) provides financing to the Government of Zambia's budget to support attainment of the goals outlined in the national plan.

CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES

Building Schools for the Future Programme

John Howell: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what progress has been made in issuing guidance to local authorities on producing revised expressions of interest for Building for the Future waves 7 to 15; and which of the factors raised in the consultation which closed on 4 July were taken into account in drafting the guidance.

Jim Knight: holding answer 6 October 2008
	The guidance was issued on 19 September. It reflected the responses to the consultation. This means that those involved in these later waves of Building Schools for the Future will benefit from the experience of those involved in the earlier waves, such as local authorities, schools, diocesan bodies and private sector bodies engaged in construction finance and design. In line with Government guidelines, we have now issued a summary of the consultation responses.
	We received 145 responses, of which 67 were from local authorities (46 per cent.), 21 from schools, 16 from representative organisations, five from diocesan bodies, nine from the private sector in construction finance and design, and 27 other—which include further private sector consultants. 55 (38 per cent.) of the responses were from bodies involved in waves 1 to 6 of Building Schools for the Future, and 90 not.
	The guidance issued in the light of the responses asks for responses by 30 November 2008. When the Department has received the responses, we will prioritise projects in the way that the guidance specifies. We aim to announce the new national programme in early 2009, which will provide authorities with an indication on when they can expect to join the programme.

Departmental Homeworking

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the Answer of 25 June 2008,  Official Report, column 405W, on departmental homeworking, if he will make it his policy to collate and maintain central records of homeworking by his Department's staff.

Beverley Hughes: We have no plans to keep a central record of those staff who agree with their line manager to work occasionally from home, for example, to write a report. There is no requirement to keep a central record.
	We have, however, recently moved from 'dial-in' access for homeworkers to broadband access only by authorised users with encrypted fobs. We have kept a central record of those authorised users with security fobs—which currently stands at 1,631 staff (or 60.3 per cent. of staff).

GCE A-level

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what percentage of A grade A-levels in  (a) chemistry,  (b) physics,  (c) mathematics and  (d) modern languages were awarded to pupils at (i) grammar schools, (ii) comprehensive schools, (iii) sixth form colleges and (iv) independent schools in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Jim Knight: holding answer 6 October 2008
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton (Mr. Gibb) on 10 September 2008,  Official Report, columns 1854-56W.

General Certificate of Secondary Education

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer of 10 September 2008,  Official Report, columns 1854-6W, on examination results, what percentage of students who gained a GCSE in  (a) French,  (b) German and  (c) Spanish at each grade were educated in the (i) mainstream maintained sector and (ii) the independent sector in each year since 1997;
	(2)  pursuant to the answer of 10 September 2008,  Official Report, columns 1854-6W, on examination results, what percentage of students who gained a GCSE in  (a) physics,  (b) chemistry and  (c) biology or human biology were educated in (i) the mainstream maintained sector and (ii) the independent sector in each year since 2005, broken down by grade.

Jim Knight: holding answer 6 October 2008
	The answer to which the question refers gives figures broken down by A*-C and A*-G grades. Further breakdowns can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

General Certificate of Secondary Education

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families in how many maintained mainstream schools over 75 per cent. of pupils obtained fewer than five GCSEs including English and mathematics at grades A to C in the last year for which figures are available.

Jim Knight: holding answer 6 October 2008
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer to PQ 180463, 28 January 2008,  Official Report, column 162W.
	The latest year for which figures are available is 2006/07. Provisional figures for 2007/08 will be available in mid-October.

Languages: General Certificate of Secondary Education

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  at how many comprehensive schools 50 per cent. or more pupils achieved a modern languages GCSE at A*-C in each year since 1997;
	(2)  what percentage of pupils in the maintained mainstream sector achieved five GCSEs including a modern language at A* to C grades in each year since 1997.

Jim Knight: holding answer 6 October 2008
	The information can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

TREASURY

Air Passenger Duty

Graham Brady: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps his Department is taking to refund pre-paid Air Passenger Duty to passengers who had booked tickets with airlines which ceased trading prior to the date of the flight.

Stephen Timms: Where an airline ceases to trade and there is no carriage of passengers, no liability to APD arises, and consequently no tax is received by HMRC.
	It is therefore for the airline to decide whether or not it refunds this charge.

Child Benefit: Telephone Services

Mark Oaten: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average waiting time was for telephone callers attempting to contact child benefit services in the last period for which figures are available.

Stephen Timms: In 2007-08 customers calling the Child Benefit Helpline waited, on average, one minute 21 seconds before their call was answered by an adviser.

Council Tax: Wales

Eric Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 21 May 2008,  Official Report, column 305W, on council tax: Wales, how many dwellings in Wales are marked with a property details activity code of  (a) 30,  (b) 60 and  (c) 70 according to the Valuation Office Agency's records.

Stephen Timms: The number of dwellings in Wales marked with property details activity code 30, 60 or 70 is as follows.
	
		
			  Data held at 2 April 2008 
			 Code 30 6,632 
			 Code 60 7,946 
			 Code 70 22,459

Departmental Disciplinary Proceedings

John Baron: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the five most serious disciplinary breaches in his Department were in the last 12 months; and what steps were taken in response to each breach.

Stephen Timms: There were fewer than five cases of serious disciplinary breaches over the last 12 months. These were dealt with under the Department's disciplinary procedures and appropriate action taken.

Departmental Security

James Duddridge: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many departmental identity cards or departmental passes have been reported lost or stolen by staff in  (a) his Department and  (b) each of its executive agencies in the last 24 months.

Stephen Timms: In the last 24 months the following departmental identity cards or passes have been reported lost or stolen by staff in:
	
		
			   Number 
			  (a) HM Treasury 136 
			   
			  (b) HM Treasury's executive agencies  
			 DMO 3 
			 OGC (1)49 
			 OGC Buying Solutions (1)13 
			 (1) OGC and OGC Buying Solutions figures include data for all their offices since January 2007. Earlier figures are not available other than at disproportionate cost.

Excise Duties: Fuels

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect of the postponement of the two pence increase in fuel duty on revenue accruing to the Exchequer in each of the next 12 months.

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the effect on Government revenue of delaying the two pence rise in fuel duty to spring 2009.

Stephen Timms: The impact of a six-month postponement of fuel duty increases on Government revenue is shown in Budget 2008, page 110, table A1.

Excise Duties: Motor Vehicles

Justine Greening: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate has he made of the effect on Exchequer receipts in each financial year of the entry into force of clause 144 of the Finance Bill, on rebates to vehicle excise duty.

Stephen Timms: The public finance assumption is that the clause will have a negligible effect on receipts.

Housing: Sales

Bob Neill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many residential property transactions there have been, according to HM Revenue and Customs records, by number and value, in  (a) England and Wales and  (b) the United Kingdom in each month in 2008.

Stephen Timms: Figures for the number of residential property transactions with a value of £40,000 or above by month are published on the HMRC website as National Statistics:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/survey_of_prop/val-40000-or-above.pdf

Housing: Valuation

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst (Robert Neill) of 18 June 2008,  Official Report, column 988W, on housing: valuation, if he will place in the Library  (a) a hard copy and  (b) electronic copies of the maps and boundaries of each locality.

Stephen Timms: The information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Housing: Valuation

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the Valuation Office Agency will adopt a principle of data minimisation in the information it collects and holds on domestic dwellings.

Stephen Timms: The Valuation Office Agency only collects information on domestic dwellings that is necessary for it to undertake its work in relation to property valuation.

Minimum Wage

Jon Trickett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many prosecutions have been brought against employers for breach of national minimum wage legislation in the last 12 months; and how many of those cases related to employers in  (a) Wakefield district and  (b) Hemsworth constituency.

Stephen Timms: Since 1 August 2007, there have been five successful prosecutions for minimum wage offences. HMRC does not maintain statistics at district or constituency level.

Minimum Wage: Hampshire

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many fines have been issued to employers for paying employees at rates below the national minimum wage in  (a) Southampton and  (b) the non-metropolitan county of Hampshire.

Stephen Timms: HMRC does not hold statistics based on town or county locations.

Minimum Wage: West Yorkshire

Colin Burgon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent steps HM Revenue and Customs has taken to ensure effective enforcement of the minimum wage in  (a) West Yorkshire and  (b) Leeds.

Stephen Timms: HM Revenue and Customs does not record activity by reference to the areas specified in the question.

Non-domestic Rates: Ports

Bob Neill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether an impact assessment has been produced in relation to the Valuation Office Agency's decision to  (a) increase business rates on port and shipping companies and  (b) backdate the higher rateable values.

Stephen Timms: The regulatory changes in relation to ports introduced from 1 April 2005 concerned the valuation basis on which the statutory designated port operators' occupations are assessed (moving from a "formula" to a "conventional" basis). They did not change the law regarding what should or should not be separately assessed, under which the present action is being taken.
	Valuation officers have no discretion over the effective date from which alterations in assessment take place, which is prescribed by separate regulation of general application. The valuation officers are simply discharging their normal functions, so no impact assessment has been undertaken by or on behalf of HM Treasury.

Northern Rock: Nationalisation

Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost to the public purse of nationalising Northern Rock has been to date.

Stephen Timms: Financial information related to Northern Rock is given in the HM Treasury's resource accounts 2007-08, published on 16 July 2008. This is available at the Treasury website:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media/4/B/annualreportandaccounts200708050808.pdf

Pensions: Ministerial Policy Advisers

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his latest estimate is of the cash equivalent transfer value of pensions accrued by  (a) special advisers and  (b) press officers in Government; and if he will make a statement.

Tom Watson: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Under the Model Contract for Special Advisers, special advisers appointed from October 2002 are entitled to the same pension choices as civil servants. Civil servants, including departmental press officers, have the choice of joining the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (PCSPS) or opting for a stakeholder pension with an employer contribution. Copies of the Model Contract and the rules of the PCSPS are available in the Libraries of the House.

Powers of Entry

Eric Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what powers of entry are exercisable by representatives of  (a) the Valuation Office Agency and  (b) HM Revenue and Customs under (i) primary and (ii) secondary legislation.

Stephen Timms: Powers exercisable by  (a) the Valuation Office Agency are contained in primary legislation. For council tax these are contained in section 26 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992. They do not extend to forcible entry. For other functions of the Valuation Office Agency I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Meriden (Mrs. Spelman) on 6 February 2006,  Official Report, column 1037W.
	Powers exercisable by  (b) HM Revenue and Customs (of which VOA is an agency) are contained in primary and secondary legislation. HMRC has a wide range of responsibilities across a number of functions ranging from administration of tax and duties, enforcement of prohibitions and restrictions through to criminal offences. Within HMRC powers of entry are only used within the limits of a particular function and when it is proportionate and reasonable to do so. The main powers exercisable by HMRC (other than those listed elsewhere as exercisable by the VOA) are shown in the following table.
	The Home Office is leading a review of powers of entry across all Government Departments and in which HMRC is engaged. The latest findings can be found at
	www.police.homeoffice.gov.uk/operational-policing/powers-pace-codes/powers-of-entry-review/.
	
		
			  List of the main powers of entry exercisable by HMRC (other than those listed elsewhere as exercisable by the VOA) 
			  Statute  Reference 
			 Alcohol Liquor Duties Act 1979 Section 79 
			 Betting and Gaming Duties Act 1981 Schedule 1 
			 Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 Part III—sections 20(A); 25A and 33; 
			  Part VIIIA—section 100F; 
			  Part IX—sections 112 and 113; 
			  Part IXA—section 118C; 
			  Part XII—sections 161; 161A and 162. 
			 Finance Act 1994 Part 1—section 24; schedule 7, paragraph 4 
			 Finance Act 1996 Schedule 5, paragraph 4 
			 Finance Act 2000 Part XII Schedule 6, paragraph 129 
			 Finance Act 2001 Schedule 7, paragraph 6 
			 Finance Act 2008 Schedule 36, paragraph 10 
			 Inheritance Act 1984 Part VIII—section 20 
			 Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 Part II—sections 8; 7; 18 and 32—schedule 1 and section 9 
			 Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 Part II—section 51 
			 Stamp Act 1981 Part 1 Regulations—section 16 
			 Taxes Management Act 1970 Sections 61; 110 and 111 
			 Value Added Tax Act 1994 Schedule 58 and schedule 11 paragraph 10 
			 Hydrocarbon Oil Duties Act 1979 Regulations made under section 17 
			 Hydrocarbon Oil Regulations 1973 (from Hydrocarbon Oil Duties Act 1979) Regulation 47 
			 Hydrocarbon Oil Duties (Reliefs for Electricity Generation) Regulations 2005 Regulations 10 and 13

Private Finance Initiative

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in respect of which private finance initiative projects the obligations on either party have not been met, leading to  (a) contract renegotiation and  (b) contract failure followed by project reversion to public control.

Yvette Cooper: In all cases but one, the National Physical Laboratory, the failure of either party to meet its obligations under the private finance initiative has led to contract re-registration or reversion to public ownership.

Private Finance Initiative

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the capital liabilities in respect of private finance initiative contracts were in each year since 1990-91, broken down by Department.

Yvette Cooper: The full list of all signed PFI projects can be found on HM Treasury's website at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/documents/public_private_partnerships/ppp_pfi_stats.cfm
	For each PFI project, this list details the project name, the capital value, the constituency and the procuring authority.

Public Sector: Pensions

Brooks Newmark: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the public sector pension deficit is if calculated using a discount rate based on index-linked gilts; and what rate was used for the most recent calculation of the deficit.

Yvette Cooper: As page 38 of the Long Term Public Finance Report published on 12 March 2008 explains, the key actuarial assumptions used to value the liabilities of individual schemes, such as discount rates, are set out in the relevant reports by the scheme actuary as reported in individual scheme resource accounts. Applying different discount rates would produce different estimates of the total liability but this would not affect the size of future actual cash payments to pensioners. Further information on the liabilities for individual pension schemes is available in the individual scheme resource accounts.

Revenue and Customs

Philip Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average cost of employing each member of staff in the compliance department of HM Revenue and Customs was in the last financial year.

Stephen Timms: The latest available cost figures are for 2006-07. In this year the average cost per member of compliance staff(1) was £37,600.
	(1) Included are Local Compliance, National Teams and Special Civil Investigations, Stamps Tax, Charity Assets and Residence and Large Business Service.

Revenue and Customs

Philip Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average yield produced by each member of staff in the compliance department at HM Revenue and Customs was in the last financial year.

Stephen Timms: The latest available yield figures are for 2006-07. In this year the average yield per member of compliance staff(1) was around £680,000.
	(1) Included are Local Compliance, National Teams and Special Civil Investigations, Stamps Tax, Charity Assets and Residence and Large Business Service.

Revenue and Customs

Brian H Donohoe: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many tax payers resident in Scotland are attached to Inland Revenue Centre 1, Glasgow;
	(2)  how many tax payers resident outside Scotland are attached to Inland Revenue centres outside of Scotland;

Stephen Timms: Information on taxpayer numbers is available on the HM Revenue and Customs website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/income tax/menu.htm
	The total number of taxpayers is shown in Table 2.1: 'Number of individual income taxpayers'. Estimates of the number of taxpayers resident in Scotland can be found in Table 2:2 'Number of individual income taxpayers by country and region'.

Revenue and Customs: Art Works

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been spent on works of art in each HM Revenue and Customs office in the last 12 months.

Stephen Timms: Nothing, according to HMRC's records.

Revenue and Customs: Buildings

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had on  (a) the future of the Mapeley STEPS Ltd estate and  (b) the reorganisation of HM Revenue and Customs offices.

Stephen Timms: The Minister responsible for HM Revenue and Customs has frequent discussions on these issues, and many other departmental issues and keeps the Chancellor of the Exchequer informed on a regular basis.

Revenue and Customs: Correspondence

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his latest estimate is of the number of letters received by each HM Revenue and Customs office where processing has not yet been concluded.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 17 September 2008
	 HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has received over 25 million items of post (letters and forms) from customers in the last 12 months.
	As at end of August 2008, HMRC estimates that there were approximately 1.2 million items of post due to be processed, which represents approximately two weeks worth of post received.
	This is within HMRC's normal expectation for this time of year and reflects the fact that volumes of work outstanding are affected by seasonal demands.
	This information is not held by individual HMRC offices.

Revenue and Customs: Scotland

Michael Moore: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what financial savings he expects to accrue from the closure of the HM Revenue and Customs offices in  (a) Hawick and  (b) Galashiels, broken down by (i) financial year and (ii) each category of expense representing five per cent. or more of the total savings in each year.

Stephen Timms: No final decision has been taken to close the HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) offices at Hawick and Galashiels. HMRC announced proposals for the possible closure of both offices on 11 June 2008 and, as part of their normal commitment to consultation with stakeholders including staff and customers, have invited feedback. I expect to take decisions on these and other proposals based on HMRC's recommendations following feedback from the consultation exercise and after detailed feasibility work has been carried out by them. Estates financial savings are neither the sole nor the primary factor in making those decisions.
	Overall, estates savings in Scotland in the period 2007-08 to 2011-12 are currently estimated at around £23.8 million. HMRC is unable to disclose the financial savings from closure of individual buildings because the release of this information would be likely to prejudice the commercial interests of HMRC's Private Finance Initiative (PFI) accommodation partners and to impact upon wider aspects of the way in which PFIs operate in the Department and in the wider Government.

Revenue and Customs: Southend-on-Sea

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what representations he has received since January 2008 from Southend-on-Sea Borough Council on staffing levels in HM Revenue and Customs offices in Southend; what plans he has to meet representatives from the council to discuss this issue; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will place in the Library a copy of the representations received from  (a) Southend-on-Sea Borough Council and  (b) the Public and Commercial Services Union on the closure of HM Revenue and Customs offices in Southend; what responses he gave in each case; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answers the former Financial Secretary my right hon. Friend the Member for Liverpool, Wavertree (Jane Kennedy) gave on 16 June 2008,  Official Report, columns 692-93. I have no current plans to meet representatives from Southend council.

Revenue and Customs: Southend-on-Sea

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the  (a) costs and  (b) projected savings are expected to be of the Estates Consolidation Programme of HM Revenue and Customs in the Southend urban area; what recent representations he has received about this programme; what response was given; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: The Estates Consolidation Programme (ECP) is a five-year undertaking designed to deliver £250 million cumulative accommodation running cost savings by releasing surplus accommodation across the HMRC estate. Accommodation is chosen for retention or vacation in conjunction with HMRC's Workforce Change Programme, which aims to ensure that the offices retained are those best suited to the Department's long-term business needs.
	The overall projected estates savings for the Eastern England region in the period 2007-08 to 2011-12 are estimated at around £25.9 million. The overall costs associated with delivering those changes over the same period are estimated at around £10.7 million. For reasons of commercial confidentiality, more specific figures cannot be made available.
	Treasury Ministers and officials receive representations from a wide range of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such representations.

Revenue and Customs: Visits Abroad

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 7 July 2008, Official Report, column 1263W, on Revenue and Customs: visits abroad, why it is no longer possible to disclose the destinations visited by HM Revenue and Customs staff.

Stephen Timms: Pursuant to the answer of 7 July 2008,  Official Report, column 1263W, for policy and operational reasons we are unable to disclose which overseas destinations HMRC employees travel to.
	HMRC has previously disclosed countries to which HMRC staff have travelled. However in observance of the FOI exemptions we believe the publication of information on the operational focus of our activities could compromise and prejudice future enforcement objectives.
	Current systems do not allow for the separation of data between policy and operational visits abroad. Information on policy visits potentially could be disclosed but are not currently held and would incur disproportionate cost to provide.

Stamp Duties: Tax Avoidance

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the loss of revenue to the Exchequer from stamp duty tax avoidance through the use of offshore trusts in the last period for which figures are available.

Stephen Timms: I refer the hon. Gentlemen to the answer the former Economic Secretary to the Treasury my right hon. Friend the Member for Normanton (Ed Balls) gave him on 16 April 2007,  Official Report, column 415W.

Stocks and Shares: Oil

John Spellar: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to restrict those engaged in the operation of the oil industry from trading in oil futures.

Stephen Timms: Commodity derivatives, such as the futures market, enable producers and consumers of energy to manage (or hedge) their exposure to adverse price movements in the future, thereby enabling them to plan for the future with certainty regarding the price they will receive or pay for the commodity in question.
	Any measure to restrict those engaged in the operation of the oil industry, i.e. producers and consumers, from trading in oil futures would limit the ability of producers and consumers to hedge effectively against adverse price movements in the future, hindering efficient business planning and risk management.

Tax Avoidance

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the loss of revenue to the Exchequer from legitimate tax avoidance in the last period for which figures are available.

Stephen Timms: The information requested is not available.

Tax Evasion: Lancashire

Ben Wallace: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many arrests have been made as part of investigations into  (a) VAT fraud,  (b) smuggling,  (c) duty avoidance and  (d) large-scale tax avoidance in Lancashire in each year since 2000;
	(2)  how many arrests were made by customs officers in Lancashire in each year since 2000.

Stephen Timms: High-level data on arrest statistics are published in HM Revenue and Customs' Annual Reports. Copies of the Annual Reports are available in the Library of the House and online www.hmrc.gov.uk. The specific information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Taxation: Aviation

Graham Brady: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer from which overseas governments he has received representations on the proposed aviation duty; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: The consultation on the proposed aviation duty closed on 24 April 2008, and considered all aspects of the operation of the duty.
	A summary of consultation responses will be published in due course.

Taxis

Philip Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies spent on taxis in the last financial year for which figures are available.

Stephen Timms: Spending on taxis in 2007-08 was as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
			 HM Treasury 217,000 
			 Debt Management Office 1,000

Valuation Office: Databases

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles) of 24 June 2008,  Official Report, columns 258-9W, on the Valuation Office: databases, whether the databases being aligned include the Valuation Office Agency's  (a) geographic information system,  (b) automated valuation model and  (c) council tax banding tool.

Stephen Timms: None of the three applications mentioned in the question are databases; however, they will all benefit from the database alignment exercise.

Valuation Office: Eurostar

Eric Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 14 July 2008,  Official Report, column 151W, on the Valuation Office: Eurostar, what source of funding or financial aid system was being investigated.

Stephen Timms: The European Commission investigation, under article 88(2) of the treaty, was into an alleged state aid in respect of British Telecom's and Kingston Communications' non domestic rating assessments.

Valuation Office: Video Recordings

Eric Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer of 14 July 2008,  Official Report, column 152W, on the Valuation Office: video recordings, what the titles are of the internal training videos available on the Valuation Office Agency intranet;
	(2)  pursuant to the answer of 14 July 2008,  Official Report, column 151W, on the Valuation Office: video recordings, what the name is of each internal training video used by the Valuation Office Agency for valuation purposes.

Stephen Timms: The VOA has used video recordings for a variety of training and information purposes. These recordings are usually accessed through the intranet and they are sometimes embedded in documents or accessed via links. The VOA does not maintain a single comprehensive record of all such filmed sequences and to collate this material, examine it, and isolate 'training videos' could be achieved only at a disproportionate cost.

VAT: Parking

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the timetable is for the decision on whether local authorities will be compensated by HM Revenue and Customs for the VAT payments they have made on off-street car park charges; what the Government's policy is on the issue; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: The European Court of Justice gave its judgment on this issue on 16 September 2008 and the precedent case will now revert to the High Court for judgment. It would not be appropriate for the Government to comment further on the matter until the legal process has been concluded.

Welfare Tax Credits: ICT

Chris Grayling: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what IT updates to tax credits systems are planned; on what dates such updates are scheduled for implementation; and what the earliest date is upon which an additional update could be added to the schedule.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 17 September 2008
	 HM Revenue and Customs are currently working towards delivering three major upgrades to the tax credits system in October 2008, April 2009 and October 2009.
	HMRC also makes regular changes throughout the year to secure the ongoing health of the IT system and its ability to deliver tax credits business events.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Madrid Declaration

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on the 1989 Madrid declaration.

Bill Rammell: British Ministers have not recently discussed the 1989 Madrid Declaration specifically with EU counterparts. However, we continue to discuss issues relevant to the Declaration, such as encouraging respect for human rights, within the EU and between the EU and China. The arms embargo was last discussed at the 2007 EU-China summit.

Georgia

Angela Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of relations with Georgia; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: Relations with Georgia are excellent. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary visited Tbilisi on 14-15 August and met President Saakashvili in New York on 27 September. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister welcomed the Georgian Prime Minister to London on 19 September.
	Throughout events in Georgia this summer, we have worked closely with partners in the EU, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, NATO, G7 and UN to reverse Russia's encroachments into Georgian territory outside the conflict zones, address immediate humanitarian needs, assist Georgia's economic recovery, foster long-term peace and stability, and encourage Georgia's domestic reform programme.

Rwanda

Eric Joyce: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the Government have made to the Government of Rwanda on the continued detention of Charles Ntakirutinka.

Gillian Merron: British officials made representations after the arrest in 2002 of the former Rwandan minister to whom my hon. Friend refers.
	Since his trial in 2004, we have continued to take a close interest in this case.
	HM ambassador in Rwanda raised this case with the Rwandan Minister for Justice in August.

Health Care: Spain

Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his Spanish counterpart on the decision of the Valencia Autonomous Region on access to local health care facilities for British expatriates below pensionable age.

Gillian Merron: The new scheme is in line with European law and is intended to bring Valencia into line with the rest of Spain. Officials at the British Embassy in Madrid have been active in negotiating an extension until the end of the year so that British Citizens who might be affected have time to make necessary provisions. The Embassy will remain in close contact with the Valencia Authorities on this issue.

Zimbabwe

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the political situation in Zimbabwe.

Gillian Merron: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary's statement to the House yesterday made our position clear. Zimbabwe's people want the agreement signed on paper to work in practice. A Cabinet needs to be appointed without further delay to reform Zimbabwe's economic management and the behaviour of its security forces. The UK continues to provide humanitarian relief to the Zimbabwean people and we remain ready to support recovery when a new government shows commitment to reform.

Zimbabwe

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the political situation in Zimbabwe.

Gillian Merron: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary's statement to the House on 6 October 2008 made our position clear. Zimbabwe's people want the agreement signed on paper to work in practice. A Cabinet needs to be appointed without further delay to reform Zimbabwe's economic management and the behaviour of its security forces. The UK continues to provide humanitarian relief to the Zimbabwean people and we remain ready to support recovery when a new government shows commitment to reform.

Horn of Africa

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the security situation in the Horn of Africa; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: The Government remain concerned about ongoing tensions and violence in several areas of the Horn of Africa, particularly in Somalia.
	We continue to work with regional governments and international partners to encourage peaceful resolution of political differences as well as offering humanitarian and development assistance.

Nepal

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the political situation in Nepal.

Bill Rammell: We welcomed the significant political changes in Nepal following the Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed in November 2006. Elections to a Constituent Assembly in April 2008 led to the declaration of Nepal as a Federal Republic. Nepal has now appointed its first President and established a multi-party Government.
	The new Government recently announced an ambitious programme of work to advance Nepal's peace process. We are helping the Government meet their objectives.

Iran

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Iran's nuclear programme.

Bill Rammell: Dr. Mohammad El Baradei, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Authority (IAEA), reported on the state of Iran's nuclear programme on 15 September 2008. Once again his report confirmed that Iran had failed to suspend enrichment-related activities, had made no progress on the transparency measures the UN Security Council and IAEA have long called for, and that, as a result of Iran's failure to engage, the IAEA had been unable to make any substantive progress on resolving the questions about studies with a possible military dimension, studies which it judges are of serious concern.

Iraq

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to facilitate the relocation to places of safety of Iraqi citizens who have assisted British forces.

Bill Rammell: We continue to work with our Whitehall partners in Ministry of Defence, Department for International Development, and UK Borders Agency and our missions in Iraq, Jordan and Syria to ensure that these brave Iraqis who meet the qualifying criteria for the Iraqi LE Staff Assistance Scheme as set out in my written statement to the House on 30 October 2007 are moved to safety as quickly as possible.

Afghanistan

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what objectives he has set for his Department's policies on Afghanistan.

Bill Rammell: On 12 December 2007 my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, in this House, set out the UK's long-term and comprehensive framework for security, political, social and economic development for Afghanistan.
	The key points are:
	encouraging and supporting more Afghan ownership, including of the security effort supporting the Government of Afghanistan as they seek to build democracy and governance at local levels;
	backing the Government of Afghanistan's attempts to dismantle the insurgency through a politically led approach;
	helping the Afghan Government meet the demands of the Afghan people by backing initiatives that encourage economic regeneration and social/economic development.
	This strategy sets the strategic objectives for the Government as a whole, including my Department and remains viable today. It can be found on the  Hansard website.

Afghanistan

Linda Gilroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent progress the Afghanistan inter-departmental drugs unit has made; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: The Afghan Drugs Inter-departmental Unit (ADIDU) continues to take forward the UK's role as the designated G8 Partner Nation with Afghanistan on counter-narcotics. This includes work to support the Government of Afghanistan in implementing its National Drug Control Strategy. The approach of risk and reward is starting to deliver, with more targeted Afghan-led operations and record seizures of narcotics.

European Union

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the role of national parliaments in the European Union; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: National Parliaments play an increasingly important influence over EU decision-making, through, for example, national scrutiny of EU business and the regular appearance of EU officials before national Parliaments.

Bangladesh

Sally Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the prospects for elections in Bangladesh.

Bill Rammell: We welcome the announcement by the Chief Adviser, Fakhruddin Ahmed, that parliamentary elections will take place on 18 December 2008. It is vital for Bangladesh's future that all parties participate positively in the democratic process so that successful elections can be followed by a smooth transition of power to the elected government.

Pakistan

John Howell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the election of the new President of Pakistan; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: The Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary spoke to President Zardari on 7 September to congratulate him on his election and reiterate Britain's commitment to working closely with the Government of Pakistan to support measures that promote stability, democracy and the rule of law. The Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary met President Zardari in London on 16 September and told him that the UK stands ready to assist the Government of Pakistan in combating the shared threat of violent extremism and meeting the economic challenges Pakistan faces.
	The Foreign Secretary also saw President Zardari in New York on 25 September and joined him at the lunch of the Friends of Pakistan Group on 26 September.
	The accession of President Zardari to the leadership of Pakistan with a 68 per cent. majority completes the transition to full democratic civilian rule for the first time in nine years.

Olympic Games 2012

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many full-time equivalent members of staff in his Department are employed on projects relating to the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics Games; how many of those work on  (a) project management,  (b) legacy planning,  (c) project oversight and  (d) financial oversight; and what plans he has for future staffing levels in each case.

Caroline Flint: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) created a new full-time D6 (First Secretary) Olympics position on 1 September 2008 to work on the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The FCO envisages that by London 2012 a full team of staff will be working on London 2012 projects (including on security, public diplomacy and protocol). However, it is difficult to predict at this stage how many staff might be involved in this work.
	The British Council has eight full-time equivalent members of staff working on projects related to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Of these, project management accounts for four full-time posts. Legacy planning, project oversight and financial oversight jointly account for four full-time posts. From 2009 to 2013, the British Council intends to recruit an additional 15 project management posts (three year period per post).

Russia: Missiles

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his  (a) European and  (b) NATO counterparts on the test-firing by Russia of the RS-12M Topol missile on 27th August 2008; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 15 September 2008
	My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has had no discussions with the Russian authorities on this test-firing. We discuss missile-related issues with Russia in the context of the Hague Code of Conduct and the missile technology control regime.

Russia: Missiles

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he had with the Russian authorities on the test firing of the RS-12M Topol missile; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 17 September 2008
	My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has had no discussions with the Russian authorities on this test-firing. We discuss missile-related issues with Russia in the Context of the Hague Code of Conduct and the missile technology control regime.

HEALTH

Departmental Databases

James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what use  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies make of (i) MOSAIC data and (ii) ACORN data.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department uses the geo-demographic systems MOSAIC and ACORN to assist with targeting of marketing and communications messaging. The Department uses the Central Office of Information (COI) to help with this process. The two targeting systems have been used to:
	improve targeting on campaigns e.g. when planning a door to door distribution drop to profile, segment then pick off the ACORN audiences that most correspond to communications target audiences to improve efficiency of activity;
	give the Department a view of specific geographic areas for targeting in terms of demographic profile;
	allow the Department to examine segments of the population on Government surveys and map them to direct mail lists and examine media consumption to enhance how the Department can reach pertinent audience groups when required;
	create a bridge between research-based segmentation and more actionable data based segmentation; and
	evaluate whether respondents to a campaign fall into an expected audience profile e.g. did the campaign work against the people the Department wanted to respond/convert and which media predominantly drove which type of respondent?
	It is possible that other tools or applications may have been used (for example, through external agencies or contractors) which themselves make some use of MOSAIC or ACORN data. The Department may not necessarily be able to identify such indirect use.

Drugs: Young People

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many finished admissions to hospital there were where a drugs overdose was a primary or secondary diagnosis at the outset in each NHS trust where the patient was  (a) under 10,  (b) between 11 and 15 and  (c) between 16 and 18 years old in each of the last five years.

Dawn Primarolo: Information by age group and year on the number of hospital admissions where the primary or secondary diagnosis was poisoning by drugs is in tables which have been placed in the Library.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan: Casualties

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many armed service personnel have become  (a) single,  (b) double,  (c) triple and  (d) quadruple amputees as a result of injuries sustained in Operation Telic and Operation Herrick.

Kevan Jones: From April 2006 to August 2008 inclusive, 34 military patients from Afghanistan and 16 from Iraq have been identified as having either a traumatic or surgical amputation; this could range from the loss of part of a finger or toe up to the loss of one or more entire limb(s).
	Because of the small numbers of personnel who have suffered an amputation we do not provide further details of amputations as this would increase the risk of an individual being identified and compromising their right to medical confidentiality.
	Service personnel who require prosthetic limbs will be provided with these by the Amputee Unit at the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre (DMRC) at Headley Court in Surrey, which is the principal medical rehabilitation centre run by the Armed Forces. The Amputee Unit provides high quality prosthetics and adaptations, manufactured on site and individually tailored as necessary for the specific patient. The aim is to provide prosthetics to enable Service personnel to resume Service duties where possible.

Departmental Leave

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many employees of his Department are on gardening leave.

Kevan Jones: The information requested is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Manpower

James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer to the right hon. Member for Horsham (Mr. Maude) of 3 July 2008,  Official Report, column 1039W, on departmental manpower, what records his Department's human resources department holds of the number of  (a) permanent staff without fixed posts or  (b) staff classified as priority movers.

Kevan Jones: Civilian staff who are in posts that are due to be cut, or are awaiting a posting (e.g. on return from overseas or a career break), are placed in the Redeployment Pool six months before the post ends, and remain the responsibility of their existing line management until they find a new job. They are permanent staff who are deployed locally to temporary work within their current business areas until they secure a more permanent position. About 830 civilian staff are currently classified by the Department's HR Management System as members of the Redeployment pool, in which they receive priority consideration for posting.

Departmental Retirement

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Hornsey and Wood Green of 7 July 2008,  Official Report, column 1174W, on departmental retirement, how many requests to work beyond the standard retirement age were received by his Department in each of the last four years.

Kevan Jones: Requests to work beyond normal retirement age have been recorded centrally since 1 October 2006. 123 requests were received in the period October 2006 to March 2007; 473 in the period April 2007 to March 2008. These figures exclude the trading fund agencies. Figures for previous years could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Weapons: Arms Trade

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many  (a) small arms and  (b) light weapons were (i) exported and (ii) imported by the UK in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested is not available.